Bundoora, Victoria

Bundoora is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District. Its local government areas are the Cities of Banyule, Darebin and Whittlesea. At the 2016 Census, Bundoora had a population of 28,653.
Bundoora is the headquarters of La Trobe University, Bundoora Campus. Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) also has a campus situated in Bundoora.
The word Bundoora is derived from "Kelbundoora", the name of a 19th-century Wurundjeri tribesman.
History.
The Bundoora area was originally inhabited by the Kurnaj-berring tribe of the Wurundjeri clan. Prior to European settlement, there were several large wetlands that were utilised by members of the Kurnaj-berring tribe.
Europeans first arrived in the Bundoora area, known at the time as the Parish of Keelbundora, in 1835. The land for surveyed in 1837 by William Wedge-Drake to allow for the sale of land. The land has previously been owned by members of the Port Phillip Association such as John Batman, who grazed their sheep there without regard for the Wurundjeri clan. The land was subsequently auctioned in Melbourne in 1838 with Bundoora being sectioned off into two areas of approximately 400 hectares. The land was purchased by well-off individuals and land speculators who resold the land within a few months, this time in blocks of . It was primarily used for sheep grazing and grain production.
Bundoora Post Office opened on 1 October 1863.
In 1899, John Matthew Vincent Smith, a well known horse breeder, purchased a property known as "Bundoora Park". The property was used to raise racing horses. A competition was held in the same year to design a homestead for the property. Sydney Herbert Wilson, who designed the Malvern Town Hall, claimed the prize of 50 pounds. The Bundoora Homestead remains a significant example of Queen Anne style Federation architecture.
The Floridia Cheese Company was formed in 1955 by the Montalto family after purchasing a small factory in Bundoora.
Geography.
Bundoora is home to Mount Cooper. Mount Cooper is located within Bundoora Park, a large (180 ha) public park. Often claimed to be Metropolitan Melbourne's highest point.
Bundoora is situated on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people, and the name "Bundoora" is derived from "Kelbundoora", the name of a 19th-century Wurundjeri man.
Demographics.
In the 2016 Census, there were 28,653 people in Bundoora.
Transport.
Bundoora is the terminus of tram route 86. The line was completed in 1986. The last W2 class tram ran along this route in mid-1987. The closest train stations are Watsonia on the Hurstbridge line and South Morang railway station on the Mernda line.
The Western Ring Road Trail and Darebin Creek Trail provides facilities for recreational and commuting cyclists.
Throughout Bundoora buses offer transport to the surrounding area. From the Latrobe University bus link on Plenty Road there is access to many suburbs throughout Melbourne, even connecting the north to the south.
On a weekend the Nightrider has services running through Bundoora for late night travel.
Sport.
Bundoora has a football team competing in the Northern Football League.
Golfers play at the Bundoora Park Public Course on Plenty Road, at the course of the Strathallan Golf Club on Main Drive or at the course of the Kings Park Golf Club on Plenty Road.
Bundoora is also home to the Bundoora Brumbies Baseball Club, the club competes in the Melbourne Winter Baseball League in B and D grade division with reserves teams in both B reserve and D reserve. The club also has a Women's team that competes in the Baseball Victoria Summer League Women's section.
The City Football Academy, administrative and training headquarters of A-League club Melbourne City FC is located in Bundoora, adjacent to the La Trobe University main campus.
Facilities.
Nearby libraries include Watsonia Library, Diamond Valley Library and Mill Park Library which are operated by Yarra Plenty Regional Library.
Books on Bundoora.
Kenna, Len "In the Beginning there was only the land Bundoora," Vic. Lions Club of Bundoora, 1988 