Online trail of Glenferrie Road in the Edwardian Era Trail
The Edwardian period, 1902-1925, was a time of great change for Glenferrie Road.
While in 1902 the commercial strip of Glenferrie Road still had paddocks and residences, the commercial building in the following Edwardian period helped to shape Glenferrie Road into the shopping centre we still recognise today.
The major themes that emerged in the Glenferrie Road of that period were not surprisingly the major themes that occur in any study of that period. The development of cinemas changed the face of Glenferrie Road with two theatres, the Palace and the Glen opening within a short period of each other and operating practically side by side.
Shopping throughout Melbourne changed with the establishment of department stores such as the renowned "Don Store" in Hawthorn, and also with the gradual development of chain stores such as Moran & Cato's and Bennett & Woolcock, the grocery and butcher stores respectively. Where people shopped, did their business, worked and played was additionally affected during this period by changes in transport.
In public transport these changes in Glenferrie Road encompassed the raising of the railway line and the development of Melbourne's electric tramway system. The coming of the automobile also changed not only how people travelled but also the streetscape as service stations were built. Again an example of this new form of building exists in Glenferrie Road.
The following online trail is based on a physical walking tour of Glenferrie Road that took place in 1993. Most of the 'stops' on this online trail can be matched physically to buildings on Glenferrie Road which still stand; this trail also has a map that users can refer to, or print, to help physically identify the location of each site.
Acknowledgement must be made to Diane Nicholas and Anne Holmes, Manager of the City of Boroondara Library Service, whose research for the original walking tour has been used for this online tour of Glenferrie Road. All photos have been provided by the City of Boroondara Library Service.
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In this section
Stop 1: R.S.L. (Returned Serviceman's League) Hall & Shops
The first stop on this tour of Edwardian Glenferrie Road is 605-609 Glenferrie Road, where the R.S.L. Hall and related shops were built on the north-west corner of Manningtree and Glenferrie roads.
Stop 2: Church of the Immaculate Conception
The first stone of Immaculate Conception was laid in 1867 and the nave was the first part of the church to be built. Despite its original construction date, Edwardian elements exist in this church, due to later changes made to the building.
Stop 3: Trains and Trams
Transport is the major theme for this stop. The train was extended through from Hawthorn to Glenferrie and Auburn in 1882 and there are various photographs in the library service showing a pretty unrecognisable Glenferrie Road with a level crossing and hansom cabs waiting for trade (see Stop 7), as well as the cab shelter in Grace Street.
Stop 4: Saturday night at the pictures
Saturday night at the pictures is the major theme for the fourth stop in this trail.
Stop 5: Medicine and Motor Car
Toolangi at 733 Glenferrie Road was built circa 1905 as a doctor's surgery and residence for William Clayton, physician and surgeon.
Stop 6: Shopping
There are many differences between shopping now and in 1902.
Stop 7: Railway Arcade (Final stop)
The final stop of this online tour is the Railway Arcade, now known as the Don Arcade.