# Ringwood East, Victoria

Ringwood East is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 26 kilometres (16 mi) east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Maroondah local government area. Ringwood East recorded a population of 10,764 at the 2021 census.
Ringwood East is located in the "Green Belt" of Melbourne, with much of the native vegetation and wildlife preserved in areas such as Wombalono Park and its surrounding suburban streets.
Access to high performing public schools, such as Ringwood Secondary College, as well as renowned private schools Tintern Grammar and Aquinas College, has led to high demand for housing in Ringwood East. The area is now seen as a real life-style option by people who may have previously looked to areas, such as Balwyn and Camberwell, for quality schools.
Ringwood East has its own railway station which is within the Myki Zone 2 fare zone on the Lilydale railway line. Maroondah Hospital is also located in Ringwood East, a large public hospital and emergency department serving the surrounding eastern suburbs.
Ringwood East Post Office opened around 1902, in what was then a rural area, before the railway station opened in 1925.

## Hospitals

Two hospitals serve the Ringwood East community and surrounding areas, providing comprehensive healthcare services:

### Maroondah Hospital

A public teaching hospital under Eastern Health, offering emergency care, general and specialist medical services, surgery, critical care, and adult mental health support.

## Karralyka Centre

The Karralyka Centre, located in Ringwood East, Victoria, is a $25 million theatre and function venue undergoing a $10 million redevelopment as of September 2024. The Karralyka Centre features a 430-seat theatre that hosts a diverse range of performances, including music, dance, comedy, and children's theatre.

## History
### Early settlement mining

In the mid-19th century, European settlers began to occupy the Ringwood East area, engaging in agriculture and mining. The discovery of gold and antimony led to the establishment of mining operations, with some shafts reaching depths of over 100 meters. This mining activity persisted until the late 1890s, when declining ore prices and water ingress issues led to the closure of many mines. The mining boom supported numerous hotels, shops, churches, and a school, making the area a bustling hub.

### Timeline

* Late 1860s: First discovery of gold & antimony, with numerous mines employing over a hundred men.
* 1880s: East Ringwood Recreation Reserve used for picnics, gymkhanas, and sports.
* 1874: Edward Feehan Cass founded the first school in the area.
* 1924: East Ringwood State School opened on Everard Road.
* 1925: Ringwood East Railway Station opened.
* 1950s: Former brickworks site turned into an Army Reserve Depot.
* 1905: Flower farms, including Howship Bros Rosedale Nursery, established.
* 1976: Maroondah Hospital officially opened.

### Burnt Bridge

Burnt Bridge is a locality within the suburb of Ringwood East. It is named after the Burnt Bridge Hotel, which was operated by Elizabeth Moore and Lucy Dawson as early as the 1840s and was located along the Lilydale Trail, near the present-day junction of Maroondah Highway, Old Lilydale Road and Beaufort Roads. At the time of the hotel's existence, the area was grazing land. Hotels in these times usually began as shanties, selling coffee to passing coaches, before gaining their liquor licences.
Although some historians have speculated that the name is derived from the Scottish word 'burn', meaning 'stream', it is more popularly believed to be derived from a canvas toll bridge in the area, which was burnt down. The hotel was also known to locals as 'The Blazing Stump'.
The shopping precinct serves residents from both sides of Maroondah Highway and from as far as Mount Dandenong Road. Burnt Bridge has a post office, pharmacy, supermarket, bakeries, cafe and takeaways.

## Australian Army barracks

The barracks at 56 Dublin Rd, Ringwood East has long supported the Australian Army through local military facilities and reserve units.
The Australian Army Reserve in Ringwood East is part of a broader network of units that support the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Reserve members participate in training and operations, contributing to national defence and emergency response efforts, while also engaging in local community activities.
In April 2013, the Minister for Defence and the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence visited the Ringwood Army Reserve base to highlight its strategic importance. The visit emphasized the Reserve's role in providing a flexible military force capable of supporting both domestic and international operations and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing Reserve units across the country.
The 31st Army Cadet Unit in Ringwood East provides training in military skills, preparing cadets for potential future service in the Army Reserve or regular Army.

## Sporting clubs
### East Ringwood Roos

The suburb has an Australian Rules football team, the East Ringwood Roos, competing in the Eastern Football League.
They are based at the reserve located on the corner of Mount Dandenong Road and Dublin Road but used to play on a field which is now the site of Maroondah Hospital.

### East Ringwood Cricket Club

The East Ringwood Cricket Club is a community-based sports club offering cricket programs for all ages and skill levels.

### East Ringwood Tennis Club Inc.

The East Ringwood Tennis Club provides facilities for social and competitive tennis. The club runs coaching, competitions, and social events to promote the sport.

### Gracedale Park Tennis Club

Gracedale Park Tennis Club is in Ringwood East. It provides both social and competitive play opportunities, as well as coaching for players of all levels.

## Education
### Combined schools

* Tintern Grammar