BACKGROUND

 

Studley Park Rd is a major thoroughfare disecting the Yarra Bend Park, linking Kew Junction in the east to the Johnston St Bridge in the west.

 

HISTORY

1837

The early survey for the Melbourne township established a preferred route to the east of the Yarra River along Johnston Street, which was confirmed in La Trobe's 1841 plan of proposed roads to outlying districts. This became one of the earliest road construction projects, with gangs of unemployed immigrants undertaking roadworks in 1842.

 

Johnston Street was named after a Melbourne City Councilor in 1851 and a toll gate was installed soon after. The river could be forded nearby at Dight's Falls, but advocates for a bridge over the Yarra in 1855 debated over a preferred crossing at this site or near the end of Clarke Street or near the current Collins Footbridge. Another privately owned "Penny Bridge" was provided nearby at the end of Church Street in 1857.

 

1857

The first bridge from Johnston St was built, linking to the large area in Kew known as Studley Park.

 

When the Bridge was opened, the road to Kew was known as the Johnston St Bridge Rd and joined the "Studley Park Rd" at Hodgson St, where it continued to what became Kew Junction..

 

Early maps show the name "Johnston St Bridge Rd" was still in use in 1905. The name survived until the 1920s when the entire road became known as "Studley Park Rd"

 

1932

Records are vague, and it's believed that the road had been sealed for its entire length by that year.

 

1933

It was proposed that a new (electric) Tramline should be built along Studley Park Rd, from the johnston St Bridge to Kew Junction. The Government of the day decided that this would not proceed, as other more important transport projects were being planned 

 

1936

In the north,  Walmer St ended at Nolan Avenue. It was extended to Studley Park Rd despite community protests that mature trees would need to be cut down. 

 

STUDLEY PARK BRIDGE ROAD (also known as "Studley Rd")

 

1860s

This road connected the Penny (Simpson's St) Toll Bridge with Studley Park and Kew, joining the Johnston St Bridge Road  at Hodgson St. The bridge was demolished in 1903 and the road was c.losed off.  A section of the road became Nolan Avenue around 1910. The road passed through what is now the Studley Park Golf Couse and a short section is still visible adjacent to the Boulevard Resturant and Function Centre.