Templestowe Lower, Victoria


Lower Templestowe is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District. Its name reflects the fact that Lower Templestowe is situated on the Yarra River, but downstream from the neighbouring suburb of Templestowe. Its local government area is the City of Manningham. At the, Lower Templestowe had a population of 13,152.
Lower Templestowe is bounded in the west by Rose Avenue, Russell Street and Sheahans Road, in the north by the Yarra River, in the east by Ruffey Creek and Williamsons Road and in the south generally by Manningham Road.
It is home to primary schools and a secondary school; Templestowe Secondary College. Like neighbouring Templestowe, it is poorly serviced by public transportation, lying geographically between three existing rail lines. An excellent and frequent bus service exists, running from Lower Templestowe into the city or to the nearest train lines.

History

The Traditional Owners of the land that came to be known as Lower Templestowe were the Wurundjeri people. They never relinquished ownership, rather, the land was stolen from them by British Colonial Authorities.
In 1841 Frederic Unwin, a Sydney solicitor, purchased 5,120 acres, or eight square miles of land, including most of the present suburb of Lower Templestowe, from the Crown, for one pound an acre under the terms of the short-lived Special Survey regulations. The area was sometimes known as Unwin's Special Survey. Many European immigrants moved to Lower Templestowe in the 1970s. Lower Templestowe Post Office opened around 1902 and closed in 1973.

Points of interest

Lower Templestowe has one shopping centre, Macedon Square and Macedon Plaza. Templestowe Hotel, despite the name, is actually located in Lower Templestowe.
Lower Templestowe boasts two parks by the Yarra River, Birrarung Park and Finns Reserve. Both parks offer walking tracks, and access to the river for swimming and rafting.

Education

Lower Templestowe has 2 government primary schools; Templestowe Valley Primary School and Templestowe Heights Primary School, as well as a Catholic primary school; St Kevin's. There is also a secondary college; Templestowe College.

Transport

Like all other suburbs in the Local Government Area of Manningham, Lower Templestowe does not have any tram or train services. Lower Templestowe is served solely by buses in terms of public transport.
Lower Templestowe's main roads include High Street, Lynwood Parade, Thompsons Road, Manningham Road and Williamsons Road.

Notable residents