From 1838, the area formed part of the extensive pastoral run of Thomas Chirnside, that was developed further by a succession of owners until the 1920s.[citation needed] The original sub-division of Chirnside Park was, at that time, known as Mooroolbark Park. Around 1,000 acres (400 ha) of mainly rich black basaltic soil was grazed and cultivated, watered from two perpetual springs.[citation needed]
In 1921, George Chirnside sold Werribee Park, moving the family's stud herds and the contents of Werribee Park Mansion to Mooroolbark Park. George Chirnside died in 1941, and permission to sell the estate was given in 1950, being finalised some years later. Subdivision was approved in 1956 by the Shire of Lillydale, with the residential area centred on the two-storey stone homestead, country club and golf course, named Chirnside Park in 1962 in honour of Thomas Chirnside.[citation needed]
Amadeo DeVincentiis, an Italian from Abruzzo, also owned great swathes of what is now known as Chirnside Park. However, he sold the land for a paltry amount in the 1960s, from which the fortunate purchasers stood to make a hefty profit. DeVincentiis spent thousands attempting to rescind the sale, but failed.[citation needed]
Formerly West Lilydale, the surrounding region became known as Chirnside Park in the 1970s, the Post Office opening on 25 September 1979.[2]
Chirnside Park today
Nominally a suburb of Melbourne, Chirnside Park is also a satellite community of Lilydale. Thus the services that cannot be met in the nearby shopping complex are found elsewhere. The residential area was originally structured around a large 18-hole golf course, although that has now been closed and a new estate known as Cloverlea has been built on the site, with dwellings on the north-eastern corner now[when?] completed. Further residential development has occurred to the west and north. Some new medical facilities have arrived recently,[when?] Chirnside Park Family Clinic being one of them.
Most of the suburb still retains a rural flavour, extending well into the Yarra Valley to the north, with commercial wineries, orchards and livestock farming, as well as large residential estates. The Heritage Golf and Country Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is situated in the north-west corner of the suburb, on the Yarra River. The Chirnside Park Shopping Centre is within the suburb.
The suburb has an Australian Rules football club as well as a Netball Club (established in the late 1990s), the Chirnside Park Panthers, competing in the Eastern Football League and Lilydale & Yarra Valley Netball Association.
Chirnside Park is also the home of the St Edmunds Basketball Club,[3] one of Australia's largest basketball clubs, based out of the Oxley Stadium, competing in the Kilsyth & Mountain District Basketball Association.
The Chirnside Park Cricket club competes in the Ringwood District Cricket Association. Established in 1984, the 'Panthers' Chirnside Park CC is located 35 km east of Melbourne and is primarily affiliated with both the Ringwood District CA and the Women's Competition. Located at Kimberley Reserve, Kimberley Drive, Chirnside Park Cricket Club has 8 senior teams (6 men's, 1 women's & 1 winter men's), multiple junior teams (3 x U10, 3 x U12, U12 girls, 3 x U14, U15 girls & U18), and a Woolworths Junior Blasters.
Demographics
At the 2016 census, Chirnside Park had a population of 9,872 people.
The median age of the Chirnside Park residents was 39 years of age, one year over the Australian average. 75.4% of residents were born in Australia, compared to the Australian average of 66.7%. The other top responses for country of birth were England 5.3%, Italy 1.7%, and New Zealand 1.3%.
When asked about religion, the most common response was "No Religion" (35.1%), followed by Catholic (23.3%), and Anglican (11.9%).[4]
