Editing Edithvale

{{Other uses}}
{{update|date=July 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox Australian place 
| type     = suburb
| name     = Edithvale
| city     = Melbourne
| state    = vic
| image    = File:Edithvale 2021 Reserve b.jpg
| caption  = Beeson Reserve Edithvale 2021
| lga      = City of Kingston
| alternative_location_map = Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne
| coordinates = {{coord|38.037|S|145.113|E|display=inline,title}}
| postcode = 3196
| pop      = 6,276
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes = <ref name="abs">{{Census 2021 AUS | id = SAL20848 | name = Edithvale (Suburbs and Localities) | accessdate = 15 July 2022 | quick = on}}</ref>
| area     = 2.1
| est      = 
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Mordialloc|Mordialloc]]
| fedgov   = [[Division of Isaacs|Isaacs]]
| dist1    = 28
| location1= [[Melbourne city centre|Melbourne]]
| near-nw  = ''[[Port Phillip]]''
|native_name=''Karrum Karrum'' ([[Boonwurrung language|Boonwurrung]])| near-n   = [[Aspendale, Victoria|Aspendale]]
| near-ne  = [[Aspendale Gardens, Victoria|Aspendale Gardens]]
| near-w   = ''[[Port Phillip]]''
| near-e   = [[Chelsea Heights, Victoria|Chelsea Heights]]
| near-sw  = ''[[Port Phillip]]''
| near-s   = [[Chelsea, Victoria|Chelsea]]
| near-se  = [[Chelsea Heights, Victoria|Chelsea Heights]]
| local_map = yes
| zoom     = 13
}}

'''Edithvale''' is a beachside suburb in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]], 28&nbsp;km south-east of Melbourne's [[Melbourne city centre|Central Business District]], located within the [[City of Kingston]] [[Local Government Areas of Victoria|local government area]]. Edithvale recorded a population of 6,276 at the {{CensusAU|2021}}.<ref name=abs />

==History==
[[File:Beeson reserve plaque 2021 b.jpg|thumb|War Memorial Plaque at Edithvale]]
Edithvale Post Office opened on 20 April 1923.<ref name = "a">{{Citation| last = Premier Postal History  | title = Post Office List | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country= | accessdate = 11 April 2008 }}</ref>

==Public transport==

[[Edithvale railway station]] on the [[Frankston line]] services the area.  Edithvale is also on the Route 902 SmartBus orbital between Airport West and Chelsea. It is also served by the occasional Route 706 to Mordialloc.

In 2021 the Edithvale Train Station was rebuilt as part of the [[Victoria State Government]]'s removal of Edithvale Road level crossing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/projects/edithvale-road-edithvale#|title=Edithvale Road, Edithvale &#124; Level Crossing Removal Project|date=21 June 2022 }}</ref>

==Edithvale Primary School==

Edithvale Primary School has a long history, originally being a wooden building which was burnt down in 1930 and took over 40 fireman to get ride of the huge fire. And is now rebuilt in red brick as it is today. During the 1960s it was the largest school in the area with over 1000 students. Notable students include Victorian State MP [[Louise Asher]] and Federal MP [[Greg Wilton]].

==Edithvale Beach==

Edithvale is best known for its long beach of pure white sand and historic bathing boxes. Residents groups have set up the Kingston Boatshed Association to protect these historic treasures, originally constructed by their owners for family activities such as swimming and fishing. The waters of Port Phillip Bay provide an excellent reflection as the sun sets directly facing the shore.

Today large houses are being built on the absolute beach frontages which are highly sought after. Pre-war this area was popular with [[Melbourne]] city residents who caught the train down on a hot Sunday and swam at Edithvale lifesaving club with its pier.

Commonly caught fish in the area include Flathead and Garfish, as well as Flounder which can be taken with a hand spear. Dolphins have been seen swimming 100 metres from shore and small fish fingerlings breed in the shallows.

The beach, which was originally ultra pure fine white sand has been degraded by coarser sand washed ashore during attempts to reclaim the beach further north at [[Aspendale, Victoria|Aspendale]] in the late 1970s. This reclamation involved pumping sand onto the eroding beach from far offshore. Unfortunately this off shore sand was much coarser and yellower being harder and grittier. It's clear today to see the progressive spread of this course sand now 3&nbsp;km south of its original location. Other changes to the beach include the installation of sewerage to beach front properties in the 1960s when the entire dune was bulldozed, removing all native vegetation and razing what was once a protective mound. Introduced grasses were planted to hold the sand together and this eventually spread down to near the waters edge, producing what is seen today as a creeping sand dune covering the original beach with grass.

Edithvale beach is also famous as the home of [[John Bertrand (Australian sailor)|John Bertrand]], skipper of the Americas Cup winning Yacht Australia II, he learnt his seamanship skills at Chelsea Yacht Club sailing on the unpredictable Port Phillip Bay.

==Sport==

The town in conjunction with neighbouring suburb [[Aspendale, Victoria|Aspendale]] has an [[Australian Rules]] football Edithvale-Aspendale team competing in the [[Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League]].

Golfers play at the Australasian Golf Club's Chelsea Public Golf Course on Fraser Avenue.<ref name = "golf">{{Citation  | author= Golf Select | title = Australasian Chelsea | url = http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=648 | accessdate = 11 May 2009 }}</ref>

==Environment==
[[File:Lochiel Ave Edithvale b.jpg|thumb|Lochiel Ave Edithvale]]
Edithvale is particularly well known for its long white sand beach which is a popular tourist attraction during summer. The beach is part of [[Port Phillip Bay]].

Part of the [[Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands|Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Ramsar Site]] lies within Edithvale, providing opportunities for [[birdwatching]] and [[environmental education]] as well as [[trail|walking and bicycle tracks]].

==See also==
* [[City of Chelsea]] – Edithvale was previously within this former local government area.

==References==
{{commons category|Edithvale, Victoria}}
{{Reflist}}

{{City of Kingston suburbs}}

[[Category:Suburbs of Melbourne]]
[[Category:Suburbs of the City of Kingston (Victoria)]]
[[Category:Port Phillip]]