Watsonia

Watsonia is located 16 km north-east of Melbourne’s Central Business District. At the 2011 Census, Watsonia had a population of 5,146.

Watsonia is named after early property developer and landowner Frank Watson. It was surveyed by Robert Hoddle in 1838 as part of the parish of Keelbundora, for subdivisional sale as farms. Until the 1870s, much of Watsonia remained part of the vast property holdings of John Brown. The Grace Park area was purchased in 1877 by Frederick Augustus Nell, and then by Frank Watson in the early twentieth century. Watson subdivided the property for housing in 1924. The area remained primarily rural until the 1940s, when property prices became affordable. Watson and other landowners paid for the establishment of a railway station in order to attract property buyers. Watsonia train station was opened on Monday 23 June 1924, between the existing Macleod and Greensborough Stations. The Simpson Army Barracks, are located in Watsonia, originally known as the Watsonia Military Camp during World War II. The complex was built on the property formerly owned by Ainslie Meares. In 1951, surrounding land was purchased for the extension of the barracks.