Seaford was the site of the Karrum Karrum swamp, which was utilised for food by the BunurongAboriginal people. In the early twentieth century, after European settlement, the swamp was drained for farming purposes (with wet areas remaining only at low lands; including Seaford and the Edithvale wetlands).[2]
The name Seaford arose during a meeting of local residents in 1913, called to decide upon a name for the settlement and the new railway station about to open. It was agreed that the name should contain some reference to the sea. Councillor Sydney Plowman suggested "Seaford", dropping the "l" from his home town of Sleaford, in Lincolnshire, England. The suggestion was adopted.[3][4]
The Seaford Post Office opened on 6 March 1914.[5]
During the 1950s and 1960s, the suburb grew as a result of affordability, and proximity to the beach and Frankston. In 1985 a report was produced titled Ecology and Management of Seaford Swamp, recommending the creation of lagoons, substantial tree plantations and improvement of public facilities. These initiatives were implemented by the City of Frankston and Melbourne Water, using funds from the Melbourne Parks and Waterways Grants Program.[2]
Sport, recreation and public facilities
Seaford is home to several public park spaces including three with barbecue facilities and playground equipment. Seaford Scout Group, one of the earliest Australian chapters, merged with Carrum to form the Seaford Carrum Scout Group.
Seaford is home to Seaford United Soccer Club and the Seaford Football Netball Club competing in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League, both using the 'Tigers' nickname. The suburb is also home to two cricket clubs, the Seaford Cricket Club (Est. 1924) and the Seaford Tigers Cricket Club (Est. 1990) who compete in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association. Southern Districts Rugby Club has its base in the north of the suburb.
Seaford beach and foreshore reserve, Victoria, Australia
The Seaford Foreshore Reserve is one of the few remaining substantial, continuous strands of natural coastal vegetation near Melbourne. Seaford is notable for this reserve, which divides the beach from Nepean Highway along the whole length of the suburb. This reserve was the site for an extensive dune restoration program undertaken by the Port Phillip Authority in 1972, under the title of the "Seaford Experimental Project". The program involved extensive areas of fencing, revegetation and the installation of walking tracks, seats, tables and shelters.
Keast Park
Aerial panorama of Seaford's Keast Park alongside the coastline
Keast Park is a 2.5-hectare (6.2-acre) public park situated at the northern end of the Seaford foreshore on Port Phillip Bay. The master plan for the park was designed in 2004, the project explored ways to protect the ecology of the sensitive foreshore environment with the functional requirements of the public park. The park serves a broad range of functions, including the Carrum Bowls Club, the sea scouts, public toilets and change facilities, a multi-purpose community space and a small café.[6]
Seaford Wetlands is a 305-hectare (750-acre) nature reserve listed on the Register of the National Estate. The wetlands are home to a wide variety of bird life, including a number of rare and endangered migratory species protected by international agreements.
The large numbers and variety of bird life make the wetlands popular with bird watchers. Many migratory birds from as far afield as Siberia visit the reserve from October to March.
There are stands of river red gums around the margins of the Wetlands, some of which are estimated to be around 300 years old. Some have scars where the bark was stripped for use by the Bunurong Aboriginal people prior to European settlement.
The swamp is noted for its prolific and various bird life. Around 130 different species have been observed there in recent years. The more common species are wetland-dependent birds which occur in southern Victoria, such as ducks, swans, rails and pelicans.
A number of rare migratory bird species also visit the wetlands between October and March. These come from Northern Asia and are protected by treaties between the Australian Government and the Governments of Japan and China. Many birds can easily be seen from the vantage points overlooking the wetland's lagoons. Others are more difficult to spot because they prefer the protection of the reed beds.
Once draining part of the Carrum Carrum Swamp, the Kananook Creek runs from northern Seaford where it is fed by the Eel Race Drain and flows southwards through Seaford, roughly adjacent to the Nepean Highway through to Frankston where it flows into Port Phillip.
Schools
There are six primary schools in Seaford, Kananook Primary School, Belvedere Park Primary School, Seaford Primary School, Seaford North Primary School, Seaford Park Primary School and St Anne's Catholic Primary School. And Seaford is also home to a secondary school as well, Patterson River Secondary School is located in the north of the suburb.
Sarah MacDiarmid disappeared from Kananook Station on 11 July 1990, last seen walking from the station to the carpark.
State Politics
Since the state election on 29 November 2014, the suburb of Seaford has been represented by Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny in Victoria's Legislative Assembly. Seaford falls within the Electoral district of Carrum.
