Tohme Lawyers – Best Lawyers Close to Strathmore Heights
Tohme Lawyers is a successful legal practice based in Essendon Fields, just 2km from Strathmore Heights.
If you are looking for a trusted lawyer in Strathmore Heights, consider Tohme Lawyers—we are conveniently located just a 4 minute drive away.
In this article Tohme Lawyers celebrates the history of Strathmore Heights, including indigenous history, early settlers, developments and landmarks.
Indigenous Heritage
Strathmore Heights lies on the land of the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people, with Moonee Ponds Creek forming its eastern boundary. This creek served as a crucial resource and travel route for Indigenous Australians, providing fish, eels, and game from the surrounding basalt plains. The name “Moonee Ponds” may derive from a Wurundjeri-willam man named Monee Monee, reflecting the deep cultural ties of the Wurundjeri people to the area.
Nearby, Solomon’s Ford on the Maribyrnong River was observed in 1803 by European explorers, who noted the presence of Aboriginal fish traps, demonstrating the sophisticated land and water management practices of the Wurundjeri. However, from 1835 onward, European colonization led to the rapid displacement of Indigenous communities, with disease and dispossession dramatically reducing the local Wurundjeri population by the 1860s. Today, while few physical traces remain in Strathmore Heights, its natural landscape, including the Moonee Ponds Creek corridor, serves as a reminder of its Indigenous heritage.
Early European Settlement and Naming
Strathmore Heights was originally part of the Parish of Doutta Galla, with land first purchased in the 1840s by Major Frederick Berkley St John. However, his land remained mostly undeveloped farmland, and for much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the area was simply an extension of North Essendon and the Broadmeadows district, used for grazing livestock.
The name Strathmore originated from Thomas Napier, an early settler who named his estate “Rosebank.” Napier’s son-in-law suggested naming a new Presbyterian parish “Strathmore” after a Scottish valley, and the name was later adopted for the suburb in 1955. Strathmore Heights, however, emerged much later, referring to the elevated land north of Strathmore and its proximity to Essendon Airport. Before its development, the area was often called the “North Essendon paddocks.”
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Suburban Development in the 1960s
Strathmore Heights was one of Melbourne’s last suburbs to be developed from farmland, with most of its growth occurring in the 1960s. The suburb was planned and developed by Bruce Small, the businessman behind Malvern Star bicycles, who subdivided the land into residential blocks. The area was designed to accommodate aviation industry workers, as Essendon Airport was still Melbourne’s primary airport at the time.
In keeping with this aviation connection, many streets in Strathmore Heights were named after aircraft manufacturers, including Boeing Road, Lockheed Street, De Havilland Avenue, and Vickers Avenue. The homes built in the area reflected the suburban style of the 1960s – predominantly brick veneer houses on large blocks, creating a uniform and cohesive character.
Governance of Strathmore Heights was initially under the City of Broadmeadows, but in 1979, municipal boundaries changed, and the suburb was transferred to the City of Essendon. This change reflected Strathmore Heights’ stronger social and geographical links with Essendon rather than Broadmeadows.
A major infrastructure project in the 1960s also impacted Strathmore Heights: the re-channelling of Moonee Ponds Creek. As part of Melbourne’s flood mitigation efforts, sections of the creek were straightened and reinforced with concrete, altering its natural flow but improving flood protection for the new housing developments. Despite these changes, parts of the creek remained parkland and were later incorporated into the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail.
Community and Growth
Unlike other suburbs, Strathmore Heights never developed its own shopping precinct or post office. Instead, residents relied on nearby Strathmore, Essendon, and Broadmeadows for retail and services. The suburb remained exclusively residential, with a few small businesses such as milk bars operating in its early years. Children attended Strathmore North Primary School (opened 1961) or Strathmore High School (opened 1957, now Strathmore Secondary College), both of which remain key educational institutions.
A major community space in Strathmore Heights is Boeing Reserve, a large park that serves as both sports fields and public parkland. The reserve hosts the Strathmore Heights Cricket Club and other local sporting teams. It is also part of the Moonee Ponds Creek corridor, offering walking and cycling trails, which have been enhanced by revegetation efforts to restore native flora.
Strathmore Heights has remained somewhat isolated due to its natural and built boundaries:
- Moonee Ponds Creek to the east
- Essendon Airport to the west
- The Tullamarine and Calder Freeway interchange to the northwest
While this has helped preserve the suburb’s quiet residential character, it has also meant limited public transport options. No train station serves the suburb directly, and the nearest stations are in Strathmore and Glenroy. A single bus route (Route 469) connects the area to Moonee Ponds via Strathmore. Over the years, residents have advocated for better pedestrian links to surrounding areas.
Notable Landmarks and Features
Though small, Strathmore Heights has several notable landmarks:
- Essendon Airport, which borders the suburb, has played a major role in shaping its identity. The historic Essendon Terminal (1950s) and the original control tower are heritage-listed, reflecting the airport’s role in Melbourne’s early aviation history. The airport now operates as Essendon Fields, a mixed-use precinct with commercial and retail developments, but it continues to host aviation-related events that attract local residents.
- Boeing Reserve, the suburb’s largest green space, contains sports ovals, playgrounds, and trails along Moonee Ponds Creek. The park remains a popular community hub for recreation and social events.
- Albion-Jacana Rail Viaduct, also known as the Moonee Ponds Creek bridge, is a striking railway trestle bridge built in 1929 for Melbourne’s freight rail system. Towering over the valley, it remains a historic engineering landmark and is a point of interest for rail enthusiasts.
Strathmore Heights’ mid-century architecture also contributes to its character. Many triple-fronted brick veneer homes remain intact, showcasing 1960s suburban design trends. One particular home, Stanley House on Lloyd Street, has been recognized in local heritage studies for its architectural significance.
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For expert, professional legal advice, contact Tohme Lawyers, whose office is located close to Strathmore Heights in Essendon Fields.
