# Armadale, Victoria

Armadale is an inner suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Stonnington local government area. Armadale recorded a population of 9,368 at the 2021 census.
The suburb has its own railway station, as well as Toorak railway station, which is also in Armadale. It is bordered by Glenferrie Road to the east, Orrong Road to the west, Malvern Road to the north and Dandenong Road/Princes Highway to the south.

## History

Armadale is named after Armadale, Sutherland in Scotland. This was because one of Armadale notable residents, James Munro, 15th Premier of Victoria, was born in Armadale, Sutherland. Armadale Post Office on High Street opened on 2 October 1884. The Armadale North Post Office, near Toorak Station, opened in 1940.

## Demographics

In the 2016 census, there were 9,054 people in Armadale. 64.5% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 3.3%, India 3.0%, China 2.2%, New Zealand 2.0% and Greece 1.2%. 73.5% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Greek 2.7%, Mandarin 2.4% and Gujarati 1.1%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 33.5%, Catholic 18.8% and Anglican 14.2%.

## Today

The suburb, which borders Toorak, long regarded Melbourne's most affluent suburb, is considered one of Melbourne's premier blue chip areas, with High Street, its main thoroughfare, containing high-end antique and fashion stores and hair salons. Glenferrie Road, a divider between Armadale and neighbouring suburb Malvern, is well known for its shopping and restaurants. Armadale contains and is in close proximity to a number of Melbourne's leading private schools, including Lauriston Girls' School and the King David School. Armadale also contains a number of parks, including Toorak Park, Victory Square Reserve, Armadale Reserve and the Union Street Gardens.

## Heritage Listings

Owing to the early settlement from the 1850s and continued development through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Armadale has a number of heritage places, including (but not limited too):
State significance:
* Armadale House, Kooyong Road (VHR H0637), was constructed in 1876 for James Munro, is a two-storey Italianate mansion laid out in a traditional arrangement. Today, it sits on a reduced site facing Kooyong Road.
* Armadale Primary School, Densham Road (VHR H1640) (also known as Primary School No. 2634), was constructed between 1886 and 1889 to the designs of architect Samuel E Bindley of the Public Works Department, in a Gothic Revival style. In 1901, a purpose built Infant School accompanied the primary school, also designed by Samuel E Bindley, in a Federation Romanesque style.
Local significance - Individual places:
* Glenunga Flats, Horsburgh Grove (HO441, Stonnington Planning Scheme), is a flats building constructed in 1940, designed by Frederick Romberg and Mary Turner Shaw in the International style.
* Hillview, Malvern Road (HO536, Stonnington Planning Scheme), is a two-storey Victorian mansion constructed in 1887-88 for Australian cricketer Tom Horan, features an substantial three-sided verandah and bichrome brickwork patterning.
* Kings Arcade, High Street (HO57, Stonnington Planning Scheme), is a Victorian commercial arcade building constructed in 1893 in a late-Victorian style with Queen Anne influences.
* Koonoona, High Street (HO439, Stonnington Planning Scheme), is a flats building constructed in 1933, to the designs of M. Sherlock, in the Spanish Mission style.
* Sebrof House, Orrong Road (HO84, Stonnington Planning Scheme), is a substantial Italianate style Victorian mansion constructed in 1884.
* Waingawa, Denbigh Road (HO601, Stonnington Planning Scheme), is a single-story Federation residence in the Queen Anne style, constructed in 1908 to the designs of Ernest H. Willis. Willis also designed (among other works) Prahran Mechanics Institute (High Street, Prahran) and Fawkner Mansions (Punt Road, Prahran). Willis also served as a Councillor for the City of Prahran between 1908 and 1920, and served as mayor in 1913-14 and again in 1918-19.
Local significance - Precincts:
* Armadale Precinct (HO130, Stonnington Planning Scheme) consists of a consistent concentration of high-quality Victorian and Federation and residences, located between Kooyong and Malvern roads.
* Cambridge Street Precinct, Cambridge Street (HO125, Stonnington Planning Scheme) is a collection of thirty-two Victorian cottages, all constructed between 1887 and 1888.
* Redcourt Avenue Precinct, Avalon Road, Dandenong Road, Orrong Road and Redcourt Avenue (HO384, Stonnington Planning Scheme), is a collection interwar residences on the subdivision of the Redcourt and Sebrof mansion estates, in a variety of styles including Georgian Revival, Moderne and Old English Revival.

## Notable citizens

* Forbes Carlile – Olympics swimming coach was born in Armadale in 1921.
* Missy Higgins – Singer-songwriter who attended Armadale Primary School.
* Ross Higgins – Actor, best known for his role as Ted Bulpitt in the television series Kingswood Country was born in Armadale in 1931.
* Edith Ingpen, a private and state Government architect, born in Armadale.
* John Jost – The Age Political Correspondent and ABC 7.30 Host
* Sam Loxton – Test cricketer who attended Armadale Public School.
* Sir Eric Pearce – Channel 9 Newsreader
* Sir John Spicer – Attorney General.
* Richard Stubbs – radio personality
* Trevor Vincent – Commonwealth games gold medalist