06 Jul 2023

The changing face of Box Hill

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Once a muse for Australian landscape artists such as Tom Roberts and Jane Sutherland, Box Hill has transformed from a rural town of orchards, vineyards and farms into one of Melbourne’s fastest growing health and education hubs.

Located on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, Box Hill has undergone rapid change since European settlement in the 1830s – evolving with the needs of its residents as it grew from a town of 154 people in 1871 to a lively Melbourne suburb of almost 30,000 today.

Now a hive of multicultural activity with a large Chinese community, remnants of Box Hill’s humble beginnings can still be found throughout the area – from the symbolic White Horse statue to the Railway Hotel’s façade on the corner of Station Street and Whitehorse Road.

As Melbourne grows, the new underground Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) station at Box Hill will make it easier and faster to access the area’s thriving retail, education and health services – and support more housing, services and jobs closer to home.

Change has always been a feature of the Box Hill community – and SRL will be part of its exciting next chapter. Let’s look back at the moments that made Box Hill what it is today.

Easter 1887 Sandringham — A classic 1887 Easter Day outing

Station Street, Box Hill showing Doncaster Tower — Station Street

This image shows a black and white South-westerly aerial view of Box Hill — South-westerly aerial view of Box Hill

Image shows Intersection of Whitehorse Road and Station Street, Box Hill. — Intersection of Whitehorse Road and Station Street, Box Hill.

This image shows a aquarobics class being held at Box Hill Recreation Centre — Box Hill recreation Centre

Community members standing near Box Hill Signage — Community members outside the Box Hill Transport Centre 1976

Five history-making moments

1. The People

From fashion to local families and festivals, nothing has changed Box Hill more than the individuals who make this suburb a community. Officially declared a city in 1927, Box Hill experienced rapid population growth following World War II.

The Whitehorse festivals of the 1960s introduced new cuisines from around the world – a taste of the suburb’s future. Today, Box Hill is home to one of Melbourne’s largest Chinese communities, with the annual Lunar New Year festival a must-see celebration of Chinese culture.

Image shows a vendor at the Community cultural event in 1960s selling food — Community cultural event in 1960s

This image shows traditional dance that is held at the Box Hill Lunar New Year Festival — Box Hill Lunar New Year 2023

This image shows a traditional performance that is held during the Box Hill Lunar new Year festival 2023 — Box Hill Lunar New Year 2023

2. The White Horse

Following a fire in the 1890s, the White horse Hotel was rebuilt with an addition that’s become a symbol of Box Hill – the White Horse statue. When Box Hill became a dry area in the 1920s during prohibition, the hotel was delicensed and became a boarding house before being demolished in 1934. The White Horse and portico were saved and erected in Whitehorse Road – later to be replaced by a fibre glass replica so the original could be safely rehomed in the Town Hall.

This images shows the Whitehorse Hotel, corner of Whitehorse and Elgar roads — Whitehorse Hotel, corner of Whitehorse and Elgar roads

THis image shows the Replica of the White Horse Statue being made in 1986 — Replica White Horse Statue being made, 1986

This image shows the White Horse statue in Box Hill — White Horse and Portico on Whitehorse Rd

3. Transport

As Box Hill grew and evolved, transport kept pace – with Box Hill boasting the first ever electric tram in the southern hemisphere. Built in 1889, the tram ran from Box Hill to Doncaster, transporting passengers to and from the train station. The Box Hill train station itself has had many updates since it opened more than 140 years ago – including moving the station underground as part of the Station Street level crossing removal in the 1980s. Box Hill Central shopping centre was built over it shortly after.

This image shows the first electric tram in the southern hemisphere in Box Hill — First electric tram in the Southern Hemisphere c. 1890s

This image shows Box Hill station, Main Street c. 1917 — Box Hill station, Main Street c. 1917

this image shows the Box Hill Station taken from the railway tracks — Box Hill Station

4. Box Hill shopping centre

For more than 40 years, ‘Centro’, as it’s affectionately known, has been a popular destination for retail, fresh food and dining. First known as Whitehorse Plaza when it opened in 1974, the shopping complex brought together all the community’s shopping needs under one roof for the first time. A southern shopping centre was built over the train station in the 1980s – providing easy access to the complex for passengers. Box Hill Central has been redeveloped and rebranded over the years and is now home to a diverse mix of stores and restaurants that reflect the area’s multicultural character.

Image shows the entrance to Whitehorse Plaza in 1974 — Whitehorse Plaza 1974

THis image shows the modern day iteration of Box Hill Central — Box Hill Central

5. Surrey Dive

Once a 40 metre deep brickworks claypit, Surrey Dive was purchased by the Council and became a swimming hot spot in 1905 after it filled with water from a natural spring. At a length of 100 metres, Surrey Dive became Australia’s first Olympic-standard size pool – hosting swimming carnivals that would attract athletic champions, such as Frank Beaurepaire, and thousands of spectators. In the 1960s, a severe drought saw the swimming hole become unsuitable for use and it was drained, backfilled and turned into an ornamental lake that locals and ducks alike enjoy today.

This image shows the Surrey Dive swimming carnival held in the 1930s which contestants mid dive. — Surrey Dive swimming carnival 1930s

Image shows Surrey Dive now transformed into a lake in the 1960s. — Surrey Dive was turned into a lake in the 1960s

The future of Box Hill

As Box Hill continues to evolve and Melbourne grows to be a city of 9 million people by the 2050s, SRL will better connect Victorians to education, health services and jobs across Melbourne’s middle suburbs – helping to meet the needs of this ever-changing suburb.

With trains running by 2035, the new underground SRL East station at Box Hill will be one of the busiest stations in Melbourne. It will attract more investment and businesses to Box Hill – including more jobs and a range of diverse and affordable housing.

Beyond the rail line and better travel connections SRL will deliver, the new station will feature pedestrian plazas, traffic-free connections to public transport and shops, and new public open spaces – including a linear park on the south side of Whitehorse Road. SRL will also create opportunities for new recreation areas, community facilities, and improved walking and cycling paths that will make Box Hill an even more attractive and vibrant place to live, work and visit.

Historical images courtesy of Box Hill Historical Society.

Suburban Rail Loop