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A trackless tram, whatever that is, has been proposed to connect us through to Monash Uni Clayton, Chadstone Shopping Centre and Caulfield station, but most residents would still prefer a traditional station connected by rail.
But whether it involves connections to the Pakenham or Glen Waverley lines, all of the options come with a hefty price tag. So while the idea of a rail link to Rowville has been around since the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan, it hasn’t made it past the planner’s whiteboard.
If the train is your thing, the best current option is the trip to Ferntree Gully for a 60-minute ride into the city. Not ideal, but you have the consolation of a seat for your journey. You can drive to the city in only 35 minutes off-peak from Rowville, but during the peak, it is more comforting to measure time not in minutes, but in podcasts listened to.
Given its proximity to the Dandenong Ranges, Rowville residents can easily enjoy these beautiful forests without the worry of the devastating fires that have ravaged the area from time to time. As immigrants from the northern hemisphere, our family has delighted in the towering gums that still grow along our streets.
Alas, they are not popular with all residents. Many complain they are too big and leave too much debris. As a final straw, their roots are playing havoc with underground utility piping/cabling and are now destined for the arborist’s chainsaw. At least the cockatoos will be happy; they seem to have taken a liking to the deciduous oaks and revel in the mess they make each autumn.
The planners are to be commended for fitting in a pleasing mix of parks and reserves, including three golf courses. Rowville Lakes, formerly known as Tirhatuan, provides good golf and competitive green fees. The merit of its name change eludes me, not only because the former Aboriginal title had a connection to the area but also because the largely low-lying course has suffered from unwanted sogginess at times.
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Rowville does have one small blemish – small, that is, depending on how close that blemish is to your residence. Three high-voltage transmission towers march like steel giants across the edge of our suburb and Timbertop – one of the more prestigious estates. Go figure. Ah well, somebody has to have them.
The area, around the junction of Stud and Wellington roads, once housed a World War II prisoner of war camp for captured Italian soldiers. It is reported that some stayed on after hostilities had ended and contributed their labour to the local farming industry. If the 10-pound Pom was an effective initiative, I’m sure the zero-lira Italian was equally excellent value.
Families with sports-minded kids have the prestigious Rowville Sports Academy at Rowville Secondary College, specialising in Australian rules, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf and volleyball.
A suburb is not only judged by the amenities provided within its boundaries, but also on the level of access to other delights. The construction of the EastLink freeway on Rowville’s doorstep, with a connection to the Peninsula Link, now puts the wonderful southern end of Port Phillip Bay just over an hour’s drive away.
Are we happy with our 1985 decision? Well, 40 years later, we are still here in the same modestly renovated house. Our children have moved on to the inner ’burbs, but still happily reminisce about their youth in the sticks. When asked where they grew up, their answer is usually met with a more satisfying: “Oh, Rowville. I hear it’s nice out there.”
Nick Brennan is a retired Australia Post manager and long-time resident of Rowville.
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