Berwick

Berwick (pronounced Berrick) is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located 43 km south-east of Melbourne. Berwick is the gateway to the Dandenong Ranges, Phillip Island, Gippsland and the Mornington Peninsula.  It has recently been incorporated into the City of Casey which includes Berwick, Harkaway, Narre Warren, Hallam, Doveton, Endeavour Hills, Lysterfield South, Hampton Park, Lyndhurst, Cranbourne, Clyde, Devon Meadows, Pearcedale, Cannons Creek, Warneet, Blind Bight and Tooradin. 

Berwick is a relatively wealthy suburb, home to the elite private school Haileybury College( junior school ), and St Margarets School. Although it has experienced fairly rapid development in recent years Berwick, with its old-fashioned library building, prim gardens and distinctive boulevard, retains something of its 19th-century English village feel.

Berwick is filled with restaurants and cafes which would be the centre point of activity in the region. Venture out and enjoy the nightlife as streets blossom with a lively atmosphere. Classy bars and clubs offer a convenient place to enjoy an evening out with friends.

Easy access to public transport provides the best of both worlds. Enjoy the tranquillity of living close to the hills, yet with public transport close enough to take you right into the heart of the city with ease.

Local shops and supermarkets offer convenient shopping. The suburb also offers diverse living with ever changing streetscapes catering for both first home buyers right through to luxurious, up market living.

To the north-west and south of the town centre have been rapid suburban housing developments including the local estates of Timbarra, Brentwood and Berwick Springs. Several local shopping centres exist within those areas including Parkhill Plaza and Eden Rise Village. Berwick's local nightclub, Blitz, is located at Castello's Berwick Springs Hotel complex.
One of Berwick's primary attractions is the Wilson Botanic Park. The 39 hectare site was originally a basalt quarry, but ongoing redevelopment since 1992 has seen it evolve into an oasis of gardens, flora and birdlife with several lakes, picnic areas and scenic walking trails with lookouts.
In contrast to the suburban sprawl that surrounds much of what was the original Berwick village are the rural areas to the north. A drive along the scenic Beaumont Road winds its way through horse stud farms and homesteads, eventually ascending the surrounding hills and offering spectacular views across the district.
Berwick is host to a number of regular markets. The Akoonah Park Market is held every Sunday at Akoonah Park, off High Street, and offers craft, fresh produce, clothes and bric-a-brac. The Casey Farmers Market is held at the Old Cheese Factory on Homestead Road on the fourth Saturday of each month, with around 30 stalls of fresh food and produce on offer, direct from the grower.
Four kilometres west of Berwick is the suburb of Narre Warren with the large regional Fountain Gate Shopping Centre consisting of major retailers, over 300 speciality stores and a selection of showrooms at the Casey Lifestyle Centre.

History

Originally part of Cardinia Creek Run and named by an early leaseholder, Robert Gardiner, after his birthplace, Berwick-on-Tweed. Subdivision of the area began in 1854 and soon a store, post office, hotel and other businesses were established. Wheat, barley and potatoes were grown, with a flour mill in operating for several years. Dairy farming and cheese making later became the main activities. The Berwick Agricultural Society, originally started in 1848 as the Mornington Farmers' Society, is one of the oldest farmers' society in Victoria.

The building of a coach road from Melbourne to Gippsland, with a railway along the same route in 1877, spurred continued development. Wilson's quarry opened in 1859 and supplied ballast for the railway line. A spur line connected with Berwick railway station to transport the metal. The quarry was an important industry, working fairly continuously over the years. Many years after its closure and reclamation from a dump site, the quarry was donated to the City of Berwick and has been developed as Wilson Botanic Park.

Berwick was proclaimed a Town in 1861. This was followed by the founding of the Berwick Roads Board in 1862 and its proclamation as a Shire in 1868 with a policeman now stationed there for the first time. In 1902 the Shire headquarters were moved to Pakenham.

The town's first school, Berwick Primary, was originally established in an old shepherd’s hut near the old Berwick hospital in 1857 .  It was the first school in the Berwick area and school number 40 in Victoria. School buildings were later built on a triangular parcel of land between Peel Street and Harkaway Road. The school operated from this site until 2003 when a new school was built in Fairholme Boulevard. Subsequently, the Peel Street site was redeveloped as Pioneer Park, a community open space. The original school buildings were retained during the redevelopment and now operate as a restaurant.

 As well as the State School, a Boys' Grammar School operated from 1882 to 1922. St Margaret's Girls' School (originally called Berwick Presbyterian Girls' School) opened in 1920 with Junior boys being admitted during the 1960s. It ceased providing boarding placement in 1978, being one of the first of the St Margarets Schools in the world to change.

An airfield was established in 1938 for private use. It was later used for gliding from 1948 to the early 1960s. In 1968 Casey Airfield was taken over as a commercial operation. Now, mainly due to the encroaching residential area, the land is the site of a TAFE college and a campus of Monash University.

In 1973 the Shire was subdivided, forming the City of Berwick and the Shire of Pakenham. In 1994 most of the City was amalgamated with most of Cranbourne Shire to form the City of Casey.

Berwick's census populations have been 60 (1861), 636 (1891), 887 (1954), 25,461 (2001) and 36,420 (2006).

The poplar trees lining the High Street and on into Beaconsfield were planted as an Avenue of Honour to commemorate the fallen in the First World War. Originally name plaques were supposed to have been mounted at the foot of each tree but this was never carried out, despite the plaques being produced.

Berwick was also the home of Edwin "Teddy" Flack, Australia's first Olympian and Olympic gold medal winner (800m and 1500m at the inaugural Athens Olympic Games). He was laid to rest in Berwick Cemetery, and is commemorated by a statue in the main street. Several sporting grounds, such as the Edwin Flack Oval, Edwin Flack Athletics Track and Edwin Flack Netball Courts, have been named in his honour. They are all located alongside Berwick Secondary College, a local public high school.

Possibly Berwick's most famous resident was Richard Casey, later Baron Casey of Berwick and Governor-General of Australia. His home of Edrington has now been converted to an aged care facility.

The Berwick Inn

The Berwick Inn, on the corner of High Sreet and Lyall Road, was licensed at Berwick in 1857 as the Border Hotel. The original one-storey section is now the bar. The two-storey section was added in 1877 as the railway approached. The western section was built later in the century. The first licensee was Robert Bain who owned the town's first store/post office and donated the land on which the shire hall was later built.

The Border Hotel was an important local centre in the early days. Aside from being the first pub on the town site it was also a stopping place for coaches en route to Gippsland ,as it involved climbing the hill in Berwick the horses were watered and rested then they stopped at Beaconsfield over the hill to rest after the climb and descent. Bain was the first secretary of the Berwick Roads Board and its initial meetings were held at the hotel from 1862 to 1865. The first local police court was held at the hotel in 1865 and it also served as a licensing court.

Library

The Berwick Mechanics' Institute and Free Library, built in 1862 at the corner of Peel and Edward Streets. In return for a nominal rent Robert Bain agreed, in 1878, to lease a block of his land to the library for 500 years, so long as a library remained on the property for that period. In 1880 it was moved to its present site in the main street and extended the following year.

Schools

Berwick Lodge Primary School
Education Primary Schools, Mansfield Street, Berwick, Greater Melbourne

Berwick Primary School
Education Primary Schools, Peel Street, Berwick, Greater Melbourne

Brentwood Park Primary School
Education Primary Schools, Bemersyde Drive, Berwick, Greater Melbourne

Timbarra Primary School
Education Primary Schools, Parkhill Drive, Berwick, Greater Melbourne

Berwick Fields Primary School
35 Gwendoline Drive , Berwick, Greater Melbourne

St Catherine's Catholic Primary School
231 Clyde Road , Berwick, Greater Melbourne

St Margaret's School Junior School
27-47 Gloucester Avenue, Berwick, Greater Melbourne

St Michael's Catholic Primary School
16 Scanlan Street , Berwick, Greater Melbourne

Beaconhills College Village Campus
92 Kangan Drive , Berwick, Greater Melbourne

Haileybury College
Edrington Campus, 138 High Street Berwick, Greater Melbourne

Berwick Secondary College
Education Primary Schools, Manuka Road, Berwick, Greater Melbourne

 

Property in Berwick
 

Below is an example of the type of property you can get for your money in Berwick:

Price: $398,000 or approx £192k

Here is a striking family home, with 4 large bedrooms and even a study, that offers easy modern living with space for the entire family.
Walk through the entrance, and find a large master bedroom, complete with WIR and luxury ensuite. There is also an impressive formal lounge area with an adjoining open plan living area, a designer kitchen and meals space. There are also plenty of extras in this wonderful home, including your very own home theatre room. And it’s perfect for both first homebuyers and families alike, and we can even tailor the plans to suit your ever changing lifestyle needs. It’s also available in a range of sizes and façade styles.

or if you are looking for something a little cheaper here is another example of property for sale in Berwick:

Price: $270,000 or approx £133k

Features: Inground Spa, Open Fire Place, A/C, Bar, Ceiling fans, Dishwasher, Flooring - carpet, Flooring - ceramic, Outdoor entertaining area
This three bedroom home is as neat as a pin with a lovely ranch style facade. Complemented by chlorinated pool, spa, huge outdoor entertaining area, open fire place, ducted heating, airconditioning, ceiling fans and one bathroom. This would make a lovely first home or investment with plenty of parking space, double gates to the rear yard and ample garden shedding.
 

Then at the other end of the scale you could move to Berwick and purchase a mansion:

Price: $800,000 or approx £387k

Features: Inground Pool, Ensuite, Alarm, Ducted Vacuum, A/C, Ceiling fans, Study, Pergola, Water feature, Outdoor entertaining area, Lounge Room - formal
Be absorbed by the beautiful Beachport inspired by the coastal mansions of the famous Hamptons in the USA. Enter this majestic home and be welcomed by a spectacular entry foyer featuring spotted gum timber floors, high ceilings and a sweeping timber and wrought iron staircase.
On the ground floor the formal combined living and dining area are both framed by stunning timber fretwork making a sophisticated entrance point while the rear family room provides a comfortable gathering space spilling out through French doors to a spectacular entertainment alfresco completed with an inground pool featuring a cabana and spa. Separately under the same roofline a rumpus room comes complete with its own wet bar, bedroom and ensuite. Separate entry here makes it the perfect place for overnight guests or even Mum and Dad. Upstairs 4 more bedrooms sit comfortably around another rumpus room, ideally located for the children. A master suite overlooks the resort styled rear garden by way of 3 sided windows around a parents retreat. The walk in robe is framed in fretwork and offers a built in dressing table and masses of shelving while the ensuite has double vanity and a separate bath. Extras include ducted heating, evaporative cooling, high ceilings and double garage with remote control plus internal access. A pleasant stroll to the local schools, the Berwick village shops and cafes. To appreciate the lifestyle this home offers an inspection is a must.

 

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