Burwood is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 kilometres east of Melbourne's Central Business District,^[2] located within the Cities of Monash and Whitehorse local government areas. Burwood recorded a population of 15,147 at the 2021 census.^[3]

Quick Facts Burwood Melbourne, Victoria, Coordinates ...

Burwood Melbourne, Victoria
Deakin University in Burwood
Burwood Location in metropolitan Melbourne
Coordinates	37.850°S 145.114°E / -37.850; 145.114
Population	15,147 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)	3125
Elevation	65 m (213 ft)
Area	8.7 km2 (3.4 sq mi)
Location	14 km (9 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Monash City of Whitehorse
State electorate(s)	Ashwood Box Hill
Federal division(s)	Chisholm
Suburbs around Burwood: Canterbury Surrey Hills Box Hill South Camberwell Burwood Burwood East Glen Iris Ashwood Mount Waverley

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The first settlement in the area, known as Ballyshanassy, was surveyed in 1858. The settlement changed name to Norwood and subsequently Burwood in 1879. The Post Office opened on 1 May 1853 as Ballyshanassy and was renamed Burwood around June 1879.^[4]

The name "Burwood" (later "Invergowrie") was the name of a house built by Sir James Palmer, in Hawthorn West, in 1852. The original settlement was centred near Burwood Cemetery and the Police Station, but the focus shifted to the intersection of Warrigal Road and Toorak Road, with later commercial development. The suburb later spread westwards to the Hartwell railway station, which was renamed as Burwood railway station.^[5]

By 1904, Burwood had a population of 600 and had a post office, two hotels, a savings bank and a number of churches. The township at that time was surrounded by farms and market gardens.^[5] Albers' Daffodil Farm is typical of the local market gardens and was established in 1934.^[6] It operated on the site where Deakin University's Burwood Campus is now located, until the site was sold to the government in 1951.

The extension of the Toorak Road tramline in 1912 was a catalyst for residential development in the area. Following World War II, development headed east along Burwood Highway^[5] to and beyond the neighbourhood of Bennettswood, where a post office has been open since 2 February 1954.^[4]

In the 2016 Census, there were 15,019 people in Burwood. 46.9% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were China 17.5%, India 4.1%, Malaysia 3.1%, Sri Lanka 2.9% and England 1.9%. 49.3% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 18.1%, Cantonese 4.5%, Greek 3.3%, Sinhalese 2.2% and Vietnamese 1.7%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 37.9% and Catholic 17.9%.^[13]

Burwood is bounded to the north by Riversdale Road, the northern boundary of Deakin University, Gardiners Creek and Eley Road, the east by Middleborough Road and to the west by Warrigal Road. The southern boundary runs near to Carlyle and Zodiac Streets, then along Gardiners Creek and subsequently, in approximate alignment with Ashwood Drive, Montpellier Road, Arthur Street, Huntingdale Road and Highbury Road.^[14]

The most prominent features of the Burwood landscape are the large buildings constructed along Burwood Highway at Deakin University, include Building C (The Alfred Deakin Building). A new multistoried modern building has also been constructed just adjacent to the Burwood Highway. This is building BC.

The main Burwood shopping centre is located at the intersection of Warrigal Road and Burwood Highway. Another shopping strip is located at Bennettswood, to the east, on the corner of Burwood Highway and Station Street.^[14]

Parks in the suburb include Wattle Park and Gardiners Creek Reserve, the latter which has a shared bicycle and pedestrian path. Sports facilities include Bennettswood Sports Ground and Bennettswood Bowling Club. Burwood Reserve and Burwood Bowling Club are located in nearby Glen Iris.^[14]

Golfers play at the course of the Wattle Park Public Golf Club, on Riversdale Road.^[18]

The suburb is home to an Australian rules football team, the Emmaus Animals, who compete in the Saturday Football League. Their home ground is at Bennettswood Reserve, adjacent to Deakin University.^[19]

The Eastern Lions Soccer Club compete in the National Premier Leagues of Victoria first division and are located at Gardiners Reserve.

The principal north–south roads are Warrigal Road, Elgar Road, Station Street and Middleborough Road, while the principal east–west roads are Riversdale Road, Burwood Highway and Highbury Road.^[14]

Two tram routes serve the suburb;

• Route 70 – Waterfront City Docklands to Wattle Park; travels along Riversdale Road, the northern boundary of the suburb, before terminating at the intersection with Elgar Road
• Route 75 – Etihad Stadium Docklands to Vermont South; travels along Burwood Highway through the whole suburb

There is no train service in the suburb, with Burwood railway station located in the adjoining suburb of Glen Iris.

There are a number of bus routes, which connect the suburb to surrounding areas.

Burwood has two retirement villages; Fountain Court, on Station Street and Cameron Close, on Warrigal Road.^[14] There are also aged care facilities, including Elizabeth Gardens, in Elizabeth Street, Highwood House, in Warrigal Road and Burwood Hill, in Edwards Street.^[20]

• Nazeem Hussain, Comedian, Actor, Television and Radio Presenter^[21]
• Flea, from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, was born and lived in the suburb, until he was 5 years old.

• City of Box Hill – Parts of Burwood were previously within this former local government area.
• City of Camberwell – Parts of Burwood were previously within this former local government area.
• City of Waverley – Parts of Burwood were previously within this former local government area.