Box Hill to Hawthorn Railway Walk
Box Hill to Hawthorn Railway Walk
An urban walk following the railway from Box Hill to Hawthorn Stations, through the leafy suburbs of Whitehorse and Boroondara.
Summary
An urban walk following the railway from Box Hill to Hawthorn Stations, through the leafy suburbs of Whitehorse and Boroondara.
Description
Catch the the train to Box Hill Station and exit via the shopping centre onto Hopetoun Parade.
Follow Carrington Road east and cross at the traffic lights at Elgar Road. Then continue through side streets through Surrey Hills to the Union Road Shops.
Then continue on the north side of the railway past Chatham Station to the historic Maling Road in Canterbury.
Follow Maling Road to East Camberwell, where you can see traces of the now-closed Outer Circle Line that once ran from Fairfield to Oakleigh.
Continue west through Camberwell and cross Burke Road into Hawthorn East. Walk through the side streets of Auburn through to Hawthorn and past the remnants of the Kew Railway Line.
Finally, enjoy the surrounds of Grace Park and houses in Hawthorn West before finishing at Hawthorn and catching the train or tram home.
This walk can be done in either direction.
1710 Views
Points of Interest
1. Heritage homes
A stretch of leafy streets with early 20th century architecture.
2. Mont Albert Station building
The oldest railway building in the City of Whitehorse. Constructed in 1910.
3. Bread Street bakery
Locally famous, especially for their Vegemite scrolls!
4. Union Road Shops
Local shopping strip along Union Road with cafes, bakeries and retail shops.
5. Colville Reserve bridge
Named for Eliza Colville, an early landowner in the mid-1880s.
6. Crossing Canterbury Road
Lots of traffic and unsafe crossing points. Use the traffic lights just west of Rochester Road.
7. Maling Road Shops
Beautiful heritage buildings (mostly built around 1900) and lots of shops to choose from along this section of Maling Road.
8. Old creekbed
See the lay of the land to find the route of a local creek, now since paved over.
9. East Camberwell Substation
Constructed in 1921-22, this is one of the best remaining examples of the substations built for Victoria's railways. The building was also used to create Spencer Street Station's Transport Mural.
10. Former East Camberwell Station site
When the Outer Circle Railway was in operation, there was a second 'East Camberwell' station located here.
11. 'Free Energy is Coming' mural
Regular train travellers will have noticed this graffiti on the northern concrete wall of the railway. Been here for many years.
12. Camberwell Junction Shops
A busy shopping centre featuring local retail businesses, offices and the Camberwell Fresh Food Market.
13. 'Rocket playground'
Central Gardens were opened in 1900 and features lots of places to walk and rest. It also features the 'rocket playground' - one of the few remaining examples of Googie Architecture in Melbourne.
14. Don Arcade
One of many small laneways and arcades around Glenferrie Station.
15. Glenferrie Shops
Another large shopping strip with a wide variety of cafes, restaurants and other facilities.
16. Glenferrie Oval
Former home of the Hawthorn Football Club, now open for community use.
17. Former Kew Railway Line
This short branch line had only two stations - Barker and Kew. The present-day linear park is where the railway used to run.
18. Grace Park
Built as part of the Grace Park Estate in the 1880s. Features lots of shady trees and places to sit.
19. Hawthorn Main Drain
Built in the early 20th century to help tame the many creeks in the area. Parts are still visible above ground, including this one through Hawthorn West.
20. St James Park
Originally called West Hawthorn Reserve, this park was created back in the 1850s when the land was reserved.
Features
Public Transport
Playground
Drinking water available
Seating available
Public toilets
Pram friendly
Historical interest
Local treasures
Park / Garden
