St Albans, Victoria

St.Albans Melbourne,
Population	35,368 (2001 census)
• Density
Postcode(s)	3021
Area	13 km2 (5.0 sq mi)
Location	18 km (11 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Brimbank
State electorate(s)	Kororoit, Derrimut
Federal division(s)	Gorton, Maribyrnong
Suburbs around St.Albans: Delahey Keilor Downs Kealba Kings Park St.Albans Kealba Albanvale Cairnlea Sunshine North

St Albans is a suburb 18 km north-west of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the City of Brimbank. Its postcode is 3021. The main commercial and shopping precinct is located on Main Road West, Main Road East, Alfrieda Street, the railway station and East Esplanade. It has become a very multicultural area with a high proportion non-English speaking background residents

History

St Albans was first established as a township in 1887 and originally subdivided by the Metropolitan Land and Development Co. Pty. Ltd. who had acquired nearly 1,000 acres in the hope of a quick financial gain during that period's land boom. The town was promoted as an attractive location for professionals who had easy rail access to central Melbourne and adjoining suburbs with a recently constructed railway station platform attracting potential homeowners to industry in nearby locations.

Development of St Albans suddenly slowed with the economic depression of the late 1890s and did not restart in large numbers until after World War II, with the influx of displaced people and continuing through the 1950s and 1960s with the influx of European migrants in response to the Australian Government's gradual relaxation of it's White Australia Policy in 1947, 1957 & 1958. During the depression many local farm properties did well, especially when the farmers commenced the dairying of cattle. Horses were also being trained locally for the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Guineas, some were successful. The wheat crops were easily sold and benefitted the farmers. Many chicken farms were established assisting local people with their income during the Great Depression as did the making of butter for sale - many times the butter and chicken eggs were sold for bread. The population did not noticeably increase until after the Second World War with the influx of the many immigrants.

St Albans remained geographically isolated from other suburbs, with large areas of open land between it and other suburbs, until the 1980s. It was sometimes surrounded by flood waters during heavy summer storms, cutting off the (then) four major roads and railway line, stranding commuters and visitors for a day or two.

Present time

St Albans' ethnic makeup is predominantly second and third generation immigrants - the ABS 2001 Census reported that 43% were of Southern or Eastern European origin, with 10% of Maltese extraction alone and about 20% from the Balkan region. Significant communities from Vietnam and China were also reported.

Since the 2001 Census, there has also been a rapid increase in the number of refugees from the Horn of Africa settling in St Albans.

Parks

Great parks are located on the East and West borders of the suburb. These areas (particularly in the West) used to have large healthy populations of native reptiles, including Tiger snake, Eastern Blue-tongued lizard and Eastern Brown snake. Unfortunately due to development these species are now rarely seen in the area.

• Brimbank Park, Melbourne
• Kororoit Creek Trail

Soccer

The local soccer team, the St Albans Saints, is backed by the Croatian community. Whilst the Green Gully Cavaliers are backed by the Maltese community.