Location

Where is the hill?

Just 14 kilometres from Melbourne City, Doncaster Hill covers 58 hectares centred on the main intersection of Doncaster Road and Williamsons/Tram Road in Doncaster. It is located to the east of Melbourne CBD, Victoria, with easy access to the Eastern Freeway and key arterial roads.

Doncaster Hill extends along both Doncaster Road and Williamsons/Tram Road and is bound to the west by the Eastern Golf Club, to the north by Westfield Drive, to the east by the Manningham City Council Offices and to the south by Merlin Street.

The Hill has an elevation of approximately 120 metres above sea level. It is one of the highest points in metropolitan Melbourne, offering 360-degree views to the Melbourne CBD, Port Phillip Bay, the Macedon, You Yang and Dandenong Ranges. An integral part of the Doncaster Hill Strategy is the enhancement of views experienced from the hill.

7 Key Precincts

Seven distinctive development precincts have been identified within Doncaster Hill - each with a distinctive character and planning vision, which together link to form an integrated urban village.

The precincts are delineated in accordance with their topographic orientation and aspect on Doncaster Hill, their relationship with main roads, and their present and future uses.

The precincts provide guidance to the expected outcomes in each area and a framework for the assessment of appropriate mixes of uses, building scale and character to create a distinctive sense of identity and character for each of the areas. In addition to the seven precincts, the intersection of Doncaster, Williamsons and Tram Road is considered to be critical in terms of the planning and development of Doncaster Hill to ensure that it is well integrated into the precinct and pedestrian friendly.

Click on any of the precincts featured on the map to the right to find out more about what the vision for each area will be by 2020.

Intersection Of Doncaster, Williamsons and Tram Road

This intersection is a major focus of the gateway to Doncaster Hill and perfectly situated to link neighbouring precincts, through improved pedestrian / bicycle / vehicle access and improved safety and amenity. Opportunities also exist for the development of a visible landmark or major piece of artwork to welcome residents / visitors to the Hill.

History and today

“Many who came to Manningham … believed they had found a place to live that embodied the best of both worlds - a country environment close to the city.

For countless millennia the Yarra River gouged its way through hills to emerge from the Warrandyte Gorge onto the wide alluvial flats of a broad valley in the land of the Wurundjeri. In 1836 the first Europeans settled in the area. Many more followed, attracted by the Valley's fertile soils and, in the 1850's, Victoria's first official goldfield. The Wurundjeri gave way to colonists; and a wilderness to stock runs, ploughed fields, fruit growing, villages and now leafy suburban subdivisions and Parkland”.
 
Doncaster is one of Manningham's gateway suburbs on the municipality's southern boundary, "a cluster of suburban housing crowned by Shoppingtown, a landmark development perched high on a hill" (known today as Doncaster Hill). "From this vantage point the surprising vista to Melbourne is a counterpane of tree tops billowing in waves of green down to the valley of the Yarra River. Tiled roofs hide cosily beneath".

("Manningham from Country to City" 2001, Barbara Pertzel & Fiona Walters)