MENTONE, VICTORIA

'Mentone' is a bayside suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Kingston. It is known locally for its beautiful beach which extends from the cliffs in Beaumaris and ends at Warrigal Road where it meets Parkdale.
Mentone is associated with the Heidelberg School of Australian artists.

Contents

History

Shopping

Politics

Transport

Entertainment/Leisure

Museum

Schools

External links

References

History

Mentone was originally founded as a resort town named after the Italian spelling of the French town Menton. In order to keep with the Italian resort theme many streets in Mentone were named after Italian cities for example, Cremona Street, Florence St, Venice St and Milan St. The development of Mentone began in the late 1800s. Mentone has now developed into a high income suburb with a well developed infrastructure.

Shopping

Mentone is home to a lively shopping area along Como Parade West, Balcombe Road and surrounding streets and laneways. This shopping strip offeres a wide range of restaurants, cafe's, bakerys, clothing stores, supermarkets, travel agents, fancy dress, craft, home, book stores and much more. A second commercial area has grown along Nepean Highway; this will expand dramatically as the former Nylex factory site between Nepean Highway and Warrigal Highway is redeveloped into a bulky goods retail precinct in 2007. Mentone has not seen the renewal that has occurred in nearby competing centres like Cheltenham, Parkdale and Black Rock, with many older shops remaining and relatively few new cafes and restaurants.

Politics

In terms of State and Federal Government Mentone is situated in the Electoral district of Mordialloc and Sandringham for state parliament and the Electoral district of Isaacs in the federal system. Current trends show the majority of Mentone voters supporting the Liberal party; however Mentone is currently represented by Labor members in both state and federal parliament due to the Labor voting tendencies of other suburbs in its electoral district.^[2]

2004 Federal Election   Liberal 50%   Labor 37%   Greens 8.5%   Family First 1.9%   Democrats 0.9%	2001 Federal Election   Liberal 48%   Labor 35%   Democrats 7.7%   Greens 5.9%   Independent 1.2%
2006 State Election   Liberal 43%   Labor 39%   Greens 8.6%   Family First 3.8%   Independent 1.5%	2002 State Election   Liberal 46%   Labor 42%   Greens 10.2%   Independent 2.2%

Transport

Mentone is located on the Nepean Highway. Mentone is serviced by a variety of Metlink public transport bus and train services, focussed on the Mentone Railway Station.

Entertainment/Leisure

Mentone is home to the famous Mentone Hotel, a historical building overlooking the bay. The Mentone pub is a very popular venue for a night out especially the "edgy" on Wednesday night when the Hotel is packed with party goers. The beaches and life saving clubs also provide leisure space as do the parkland and oval near the council offices. Mentone is also home to numerous sporting clubs including football, tennis, bowling as well as many gyms.

Museum

The Australian National Aviation Museum, formerly called the Moorabin Air Museum, is located in Moorabbin Airport (Harry Hawker Airport).

Schools

★ Kilbreda College is a Catholic Secondary School for girls, founded in 1904. The school is owned and administered by the Brigidine Sisters

★ St Bede's is a Catholic boys high school founded in 1938. It is administered by the De La Salle Brothers. Former students include members of the rock band Jet and Australian cricket player Brad Hodge

★ Mentone Grammar School - Co-ed Kindergarten to Secondary Education. Shane Warne being a famous student of this school.

★ Mentone Girls' Grammar School - An Anglican school for girl's from ELC to year 12, founded in 1899.

★ Mentone Girls Secondary College

★ St Patrick's Catholic Primary School

★ Mentone State School

External links

References

1. Mentone, accessed 9 August 2007
2. Based on voting centres at Mentone, Mentone North and Mentone Park