Oakleigh Historical Walk (Oakleigh)
Easy 3.5 km walk which starts and finishes at Oakleigh Railway Station.
Map of Route
Route Description
Important note: This walk begins and ends at the same point.
1. Begin by walking north along Station Street; turn right into Atherton Road, continuing to the pedestrian lights opposite the Oakleigh Mall. Cross Atherton Road and walk back down to Drummond Street. Locals bestowed Drummond Street as Oakleigh's 'Avenue of Honour' in memory of war service, following WW1. Turning right and walking down Drummond Street, you'll find many of Oakleigh's important civic building and historical sites. On the left hand side (western) side is the old Oakleigh Shire Offices (Est.1922). On the right or eastern side, you will pass the Uniting Church, Masonic Centre, Oakleigh Library, Mechanics Institute (Est.1906) and the Egyptian Church (Est.1928)
2. Cross the road at the Egyptian Church and walk back past the RSL and through the Oakleigh Memorial Park to Warrigal Road. What is the oldest grave stone you can see?
3. Turn right at Warrigal Road and continue past the Warrawee Park Oval. On the corner of Warrigal Road and Logie Street is the Oakleigh Primary School (Est.1885). Be sure to inspect the WWI memorial gates on the Warrigal Road entrance of the school.
4. Continue along Warrigal Road and cross Princes Highway at the lights. Turn right, and walk 100 metres to Drummond Street. On the corner of Drummond Street and Princes Highway is what used to be the old English, Scottish &Australian Bank (Est.1885).
5. Turn left down Drummond Street, to the area of Oakleigh which was first surveyed in 1853. Oakleigh Settlement was initially centred in the area between Princes Highway and Scotchman's Creek, hence streets like Dalgety Street were distinctively wide with space for attractive plantations. The centre of Oakleigh later shifted south when the railway opened.
6. Continue along, past Allen Street. Turn right and walk down Cole Crescent until you come to a small section of the Scotchman's Creek Trail which you follow. Before you reach the next main street, (Atkinson Street) by the bridge you will find a commemorative stone of the first settlement in Oakleigh in the 1850's. This is the site of Oakleigh's first licensed premises, the 'Atkinson's South Yarra Pound Inn'.
7. Turn right, cross the bridge and walk up Atkinson Street, past Caloola Reserve, and cross the Princes Highway. Look for number 96 Atkinson Street. This was the home of the first Oakleigh Mayor, Cr F W Binns. The hilltop seen here was believed to have been a corroboree ground for the Bunerong Tribe, before white settlement.
8. Continue up Atkinson Street and turn right at Atherton Road. Walk amongst the continental cafes, fresh food suppliers and a vast array of specialty shops. Why not pick up some refreshments before returning home?
9. Continue up Atherton Road, past Drummond Street. Turn left into Station Street and make your way back to the Oakleigh Railway Station.
Location
35 Station Street, Oakleigh 3166 Map
Web Links
→ Oakleigh Historical Walk (route details)
