Beaconsfield is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, approximately 44 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD. It is within the Shire of Cardinia and has the postcode 3807. Beaconsfield is located around Cardinia Creek and has developed from an agricultural and transport settlement into a suburban area with a mixture of established properties, newer housing, parks and local businesses.
History
The area now known as Beaconsfield was originally part of the Panty Gurn Gurn Station, established in 1845. The district was used for farming and later became associated with timber, orcharding and other agricultural activities.
One of the early settlers was David Bowman, who selected land near Cardinia Creek and established an inn for travellers using the Gippsland road. The inn became known as the Gippsland Hotel and was later associated with the Central Hotel. The settlement grew around the inn and the road connecting Melbourne with Gippsland.
The opening of the railway provided another important stage in the development of Beaconsfield. A railway station was opened in 1879, making the district more accessible from Melbourne and contributing to the growth of local businesses and services. Beaconsfield was also used as a stopping point for visitors travelling further into the surrounding rural districts.
The name Beaconsfield was adopted officially in the late nineteenth century and is associated with Benjamin Disraeli, the British politician who was created Earl of Beaconsfield.
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the district developed a number of local businesses and services, including general stores, produce businesses, blacksmiths, timber-related businesses and bakeries. Agriculture remained important, with produce transported by rail to Melbourne.
The suburb expanded considerably during the twentieth century and particularly during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries as residential development extended further into the surrounding farmland.
Geography
Beaconsfield is situated around Cardinia Creek, which forms an important natural feature of the district. The creek and surrounding reserves provide areas of remnant vegetation and habitat within the suburban area.
The suburb has a mixture of residential streets, open space, sporting reserves, wetlands and areas of bushland. Beaconsfield also borders the more rural areas towards Beaconsfield Upper and Emerald.
Parks and recreation
Beaconsfield has a number of parks, reserves and walking areas.
Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve
The Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve is located near Beaconsfield-Emerald Road and Cardinia Creek. The reserve contains remnant vegetation and provides habitat for native wildlife. Walking and cycling paths run through parts of the reserve.
The reserve forms part of the wider Cardinia Creek parkland system. Species recorded in the broader area include platypus, echidnas and a variety of native birds.
Beaconsfield Recreation Reserve
Beaconsfield Recreation Reserve is located on Beaconsfield-Emerald Road and provides facilities for local sporting and recreational activities. It includes sporting ovals, cricket facilities, tennis and netball courts, walking areas and a children's playground.
The reserve also provides access to walking areas along Cardinia Creek.
Beaconsfield Park
Beaconsfield Park is located near the junction of the Old Princes Highway and Beaconsfield-Emerald Road. The park includes a memorial sign and plaques associated with the local Avenue of Honour.
The park provides a small open space and picnic area close to the town centre.
Wetlands
The Berwick Views Wetlands are located near Beaconsfield-Emerald Road and Fieldstone Boulevard. The wetlands include walking paths and areas of vegetation surrounding the waterway.
The wetlands provide habitat for waterbirds and other local wildlife and are used by residents for walking and informal recreation.
Holm Park
Holm Park Recreation Reserve is one of the larger sporting areas in the suburb. It provides ovals and sporting facilities and is used by local sporting clubs and community groups.
Things to do
Walking is one of the main recreational activities in Beaconsfield. The paths around Cardinia Creek, the Flora and Fauna Reserve, wetlands and local parks provide several options for short walks and informal recreation.
The area's parks are also used for picnics, children's play, dog walking and community events. Sporting activities include Australian rules football, cricket, tennis and netball.
Beaconsfield is also close to the larger Cardinia Creek regional parkland system, which provides further opportunities for walking, cycling and nature observation.
Shopping and local businesses
Beaconsfield's main commercial area is concentrated around the Old Princes Highway and nearby shopping centres. The area contains supermarkets, retail shops, professional services, takeaway businesses, bakeries, cafés and other small businesses.
The suburb has retained a number of independent and locally operated businesses alongside larger retailers.
Cafés and food
Ducky in the Field is a café located in the Beaconsfield shopping area at 55 Old Princes Highway. The café serves breakfast, lunch and other casual meals and has indoor and outdoor seating. It has been part of the local shopping strip for a number of years.
Daydreamers Cafe is located at 12–14 Old Princes Highway. The café serves breakfast, brunch and lunch and has an indoor dining area and courtyard. It also provides takeaway drinks and food and is used for private functions.
Other cafés and food businesses in Beaconsfield include Middle Ground, Greens & Grains, Something Good and Woods Street Kitchen. The suburb also has bakeries and other takeaway and casual dining businesses.
O.MY is a restaurant on the Princes Highway known for its degustation-style dining. The restaurant has attracted attention beyond the local area and has become one of the more notable restaurants associated with Beaconsfield.
Transport
Beaconsfield railway station is located on the Pakenham line of the Melbourne metropolitan railway network. The station opened in 1879 and has played an important role in the development of the suburb.
The Princes Highway passes through Beaconsfield and provides a major road connection between Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs and Gippsland. The Monash Freeway is also accessible from the surrounding area.
Bus services connect the railway station and shopping areas with neighbouring suburbs.
Community
Beaconsfield has a number of sporting clubs, community organisations and local groups. The Beaconsfield Progress Association has been involved in local community issues, heritage and events.
Community events and activities are held at local parks and sporting reserves throughout the year. Bob Burgess Reserve, for example, has been used for community events including Christmas celebrations.
Heritage and memorials
The Beaconsfield area retains several reminders of its nineteenth- and early twentieth-century history, including the railway station precinct, older residences and community memorials.
The Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour commemorates local service personnel. The avenue was established in 1929, with plaques later installed at Beaconsfield Park.
A war memorial is also located near the Old Princes Highway and Woods Street.
See also
Beaconsfield railway station, Melbourne Beaconsfield Upper, Victoria Cardinia Creek Shire of Cardinia Cardinia Creek Regional Parklands
References
External links
Beaconsfield Progress Association Cardinia Shire Council Daydreamers Cafe Public Transport Victoria
Beaconsfield (Boonwurrung: Kemgrim) is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Cardinia and City of Casey local government areas. Beaconsfield recorded a population of 7,267 at the 2021 census.
History
Beaconsfield had its roots as a farming settlement on part of the Panty Gurn Gurn Station, which was originally established in 1845.https://beaconsfield.org.au/beaconsfield-history/ The area was subsequently named Beaconsfield after Benjamin Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield).Beaumont, Early Days of Berwick 1979 p.112 David Bowman selected land of approximately 200 acres east of Cardinia Creek and built an inn for travelers, and a settlement grew around the Bowman’s Inn, also known as ‘Gippsland Hotel’ and now the ‘Central Hotel’. A railway station opened in 1879, and a Post Office opened 1889 on Woods Street. It became the Beaconsfield Post Office in 1916 and was used for many years as a café, but was demolished in late October 2021. The earlier Beaconsfield Railway Station Post Office opened on 1 January 1883.
In 1891 an area to north of Beaconsfield was renamed Beaconsfield Upper and in around 1902 the Railway Station was renamed to "Beaconsfield".
Facilities
Shopping centres include "Beaconsfield Shopping Plaza" with shops including Aldi, Woolworths, bakeries, a post office, chemist, cafés and takeaway food shops, and the nearby "Beaconsfield Hub".
Schools include Beaconsfield Primary, and St Francis Xavier College (Beaconsfield Campus). There are many cafés, restaurants and hairdressers around the commercial shopping area. The Beaconsfield CFA (Country Fire Authority) has their fire station in Woods Street.
The Akoonah Park Market is held every Sunday, and is very popular with local Berwick and Beaconsfield shoppers.
Historical Places of Interest War cenotaph located on the corner of Woods Street and Old Princes Highway. It was unveiled in 1920.
Railway house built in 1888, near Beaconsfield Train Station. The large bunya bunya pine to the front of the property is listed as a significant tree.
Shipwatcher's lookout is marked by a large granite rock and plaque, on the side of Cooinda Road.
Parks Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve on the Beaconsfield Emerald Road.
Beaconsfield Park located on the corner of Beaconsfield Emerald Road and the Old Princes Highway.
Berwick Views Wetlands beside Beaconsfield Emerald Road and Fieldstone Boulevard
Bob Burgess Reserve on Old Princes Highway, and is opposite Beaconsfield Park.
Jim Parkes Reserve on the corner of Souter and Horner Street.
Kath Roberts Reserve on Kathleen Court.
Sports clubs The suburb has an Australian Rules football club and a netball club that compete in the Eastern Football Netball League.
There is also a cricket club and a tennis club.
Notable people Vanessa Amorosi – professional singer who had several Top 40 chart hits. Len Maddocks – former Australian cricketer. Brendan Fevola – Australian rules footballer. Austinn Jones – Australian rules footballer. Chris Newman - Australian rules footballer.
See also City of Berwick – Parts of Beaconsfield were previously within this former local government area. Shire of Pakenham – Parts of Beaconsfield were previously within this former local government area. Beaconsfield railway station
References
External links Australian Places – Beaconsfield Beaconsfield Progress Association, Inc. Beaconsfield Primary St Francis Xavier College Beaconsfield Pharmacy Beaconsfield Tennis Club Beaconsfield Cricket Club Beaconsfield Football Club Beaconsfield Fitness Centre Beaconsfield Hub The Medical Clinic Akoonah Park Market