Springvale Railway Crossing

Springvale Railway Crossing, with a down Harris train, heading towards Dandenong.

In August 1981, pedestrian boom barriers were installed at Springvale Road level crossing, as these are missing the photo has to be before August 1981.

Photo is undated and had no author credit supplied. It's possible it was taken by Peter Wright in 1968.

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Springvale (Springvale Road) in the early 1970s.

The Woolworths in this picture was built around 1961 as Rockmans, at some point in the 1970s it became a Woolworths variety store and supermarket, with the supermarket facing Windsor Avenue. Woolworths had previously bought the Rockmans chain in 1960.

After the 1985 acquisition of Safeway by Woolworths, it was rebranded, resulting in Springvale having two Safeways for some time. The store further down the road, having been built in the 1970s, was renovated in the 1990s, resulting in this store being closed. The building was renovated to become the Springvale Central arcade we know today.

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Some Springvale History:

The name Springvale arose from a permanent water source for stock and travelers between Melbourne and Dandenong that was in the vicinity of the intersection of Dandenong and Centre/Police Roads.

It was near the springs in the 1850's that the Spring Vale hotel was built alongside the newly surveyed route between Oakleigh and Dandenong. From this hotel came the name of Springvale as we use it now.

The first Springvale Post Office opened on 12 September 1864 and closed in 1892. This office had been superseded by Springvale Railway Station office (opened 1887) which was renamed Springvale in 1902. A Springvale North Post Office was also open between 1946 and 1978.

In 1886, land was subdivided near the railway station, and the area began to grow. By the 1920's the Spring Vale community had a lodge, brass band, a recreation reserve, a mechanics' institute, a few shops and some houses in the township.

A picture theatre opened in 1924. At the outbreak of the second world war Springvale was a pastoral, residential and industrial township with market gardens in the surrounding areas. Sand extraction industries were active, lasting until the 1990's.

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Springvale, Late 1960s/Early 1970s.

Dean Frith writes:

That photo was taken from the old Emptor distillery tower, later years Emptor Toyota. I remember in the early 80s, then became Sandown Air Conditioning in the early 90s, then around 2000 Coldow Air Conditioning, many a time when I work for Sandown Air Conditioning I would go up to the landing where the photo was taken to enjoy the view.

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Springvale, 1953.

Looking south over the railway tracks down Springvale Road. A lot has changed since the 1950s, with a lot remaining the same too.

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Princes Hwy and Corrigan Road, Springvale, 1967.

Penny Harris Jennings writes:

Almost Dandenong, Springvale Botanical Cemetery, intersection Princes Hwy and Corrigan Road 1967.

Photo credit goes to Penny for both of these.

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Springvale High School, 1950s?

 

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Heatherton Road-Princes Highway, Springvale, 1956.

Dated from 1956, this photo shows an area just up the Highway from Dandenong, which has seen many changes, do you know where we are? 

Oakwood park Riding School late 50's. Also the home of 11th Dandenong Cub Scouts 1960's, Irving Street takes its name from the famous equestrian rider Miss Kay Irving.

The old stalls were used as a scout hall by 11th & 14th Dandenong North scout group on corner Heyington and Mollison in Oakwood Park. Formally know as the Oaks.

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Springvale (main street) in the early 1970's

The name Springvale arose from a permanent water source for stock and travellers between Melbourne and Dandenong that was in the vicinity of the intersection of Dandenong and Centre/Police Roads.

It was near the springs in the 1850s that the Spring Vale hotel was built alongside the newly surveyed route between Oakleigh and Dandenong. From this hotel came the name of Springvale as we use it now.

The first Springvale Post Office opened on 12 September 1864 and closed in 1892. This office had been superseded by Springvale Railway Station office (opened 1887) which was renamed Springvale in 1902. A Springvale North Post Office was also open between 1946 and 1978.

In 1886, land was subdivided near the railway station and the area began to grow. By the 1920s the Spring Vale community had a lodge, brass band, a recreation reserve, a mechanics' institute, a few shops and some houses in the township.

A picture theatre opened in 1924. At the outbreak of the second world war Springvale was a pastoral, residential and industrial township with market gardens in the surrounding areas. Sand extraction industries were active, lasting until the 1990s.

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Springvale Hotel, Princes Highway, Springvale, undated.

The name Springvale arose from a permanent water source for stock and travellers between Melbourne and Dandenong that was in the vicinity of the intersection of Dandenong and Centre/Police Roads. It was near the springs in the 1850s that the Spring Vale hotel was built alongside the newly surveyed route between Oakleigh and Dandenong. 

The hotel's proprietor chose that name because of the natural springs and his association with a place near the Bog of Allen in his native Ireland. It was expected that a village would spring up around the hotel but this did not eventuate until the primary school was opened at the top of the hill in 1867, and even then it never grew to its full potential at this location.

In 1886, land was subdivided and sold alongside a stopping place where Spring Vale Road and the Gippsland railway line (opened 1879) intersected. This land was nearly two kilometres south of the hotel and school on Princes Highway and it was here that the main Springvale township developed.

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Blanchard Motors, Corner of Springvale Road and Princes Highway, Springvale, 1970.

We came across this wonderful shot by Graham Southam of the old Holden dealership run by Graham Blanchard in Springvale. For many years this business graced a corner of what would become one of the most notorious intersections withing Greater Melbourne.

Andrew Scanlon writes:
Impala kitchens and a BBQ place were on the showroom site in a new building for years afterwards. The used car site continued as a car yard till the 2000's then became a lighting place with the yard and building more or less intact.

Image courtesy of; City of Greater Dandenong
https://ehive.com/collections/5704/objects/588804/blanchard-motors

Aerial of Dandenong (princes hwy) and Springvale Roads around 1955

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