Revealing your new heritage gardens

We are removing 18 level crossings and building 12 new stations as part of a $3 billion upgrade of the Frankston line that will improve safety, reduce congestion and allow more trains to run more often.

Preserving your local heritage

Work will begin on the new Mentone Station precinct early this year. The new station design will preserve Mentone’s rich rail history while upgrading the station precinct to make it safer and more accessible.

We will close the gardens in early February and the existing station in late March 2020. This means we can complete major works, including piling in the station precinct to form the walls of the rail trench and building the new Mentone Station.

The 5 heritage-listed trees – 2 Norfolk Island pines and 3 Canary Island date palms – will be protected by temporary fencing while works are underway.

In late 2020 we will begin replanting in the station garden to take advantage of the spring growth season. We plan to have the gardens reopened for the community in early 2021.

A garden for all

We’re retaining the 5 mature heritage-listed trees on-site and preserving many smaller trees and bushes.

More community space

The new station gardens will include more green space and wider paths, with ramps and handrails to improve access for all community members.

A key feature of the design is the performance stage, which doubles as a seating area – a feature we heard was important to the community.

Where possible we will salvage plants, including the birds of paradise and silver waves succulents, and replant

them in the gardens. We will also plant new peppercorn trees and jasmine, keeping the 'boomerang' hedge feature.

New trees will include subtropical varieties such as the Canary Islands dragon tree and the flowering silk floss tree among many others. Flowering groundcovers will include the pigface, flower dust plant and baby sun rose.

The garden will seamlessly link to the new heritage deck over the rail trench.

Murrell and Garryowen

The Garryowen horse trough is a key feature of the current garden and will be retained in the new garden.

The horse trough commemorates the 1934 tragedy when local equestrienne Violet Murrell and her husband Bill lost their lives rescuing their beloved horses from a fire in their Latrobe Street stable.

Violet was a pioneering horse woman who began racing in 1921. Early in her career she established herself as a formidable competitor by beating many male jockeys. She won many country races, but was unable to compete in city races, as female jockeys were banned.

In 1927 she married Bill, a jumps jockey, and began a training career. Two years later she was introduced to the bay gelding show horse Garryowen.

Violet and Garryowen had many successes, winning around 200 sashes and prizes including first place at the Royal Melbourne Show 3 years in a row. The Murrells set up their race training business in Mentone at the back of their Latrobe Street home.

Project timeline

Early 2020

• Station gardens closed to public and plants removed
• Mentone Station closes

Mid 2020

• Station platforms removed
• Piling works
• Construction and opening of new Mentone Station

Late 2020

• Heritage-listed station buildings restored
• Replanting begins

Early 2021

• Gardens open to the community
• Heritage deck complete