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Produced and published by the School of Historical & Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne
Published July 2008
Published July 2008
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(3084, 11 km NE, Banyule City)
A small elevated district between Heidelberg and East Ivanhoe, Eaglemont encompasses two early properties, Leighton, which was established by the Bolden brothers in the 1840s, and Hartlands, which was established by novelist Rolf Boldrewood's father, S.J. Browne. The latter property included the most elevated region, Mount Eagle, which, when Hartlands was subdivided in 1853, became the Mount Eagle property. The area was renowned for its natural beauty and its views across the Yarra Valley.
Most of Hartlands remained agricultural, but in the late 1850s parliamentarian J.H. Brooke built a large residence on Mount Eagle and established extensive gardens. Over the next three decades Mount Eagle changed hands and for several years the house was used as a tea-room.
In the 1880s land boom, Mount Eagle and the elevated part of Leighton were acquired by a syndicate and subdivided as the Eaglemont Estate. Few sales followed and Mount Eagle house remained vacant until it was made available in 1888 to a group of Heidelberg School artists including Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Charles Conder and Frederick McCubbin. Over the next three years they painted the property and its Yarra Valley surroundings, making the house a focus for Melbourne's bohemian and visual arts community.
During the 20th century suburban development slowly engulfed the area. Mount Eagle remained largely intact until 1915 when Walter Burley Griffin was employed to design a subdivision, which was also named Eaglemont. His innovative design used the original curving driveway and land contours for its street lines, and included groups of houses around pockets of common parkland. In 1916, on lower land to the north-east, he designed the Glenard estate on similar principles. Griffin lived at Eaglemont for some years and designed a number of its houses. Desbrowe-Annear was also responsible for some designs.
Eaglemont became a prestigious suburb, especially the Griffin-designed pocket of large and often innovative houses set in the now mature and charming streetscapes. By the early 21st century this affluent suburb had a high proportion of its residents employed as managers, administrators and professionals.