Introduction

Today Frankston's many historical layers are not obvious. Few could visualise it as once a squatter's run, with native scrub cover and cultivated grasslands interrupted by only a few buildings. Even its later development stages, such as that of a semi-rural seaside resort town, are now obscured by its more recent role as a major district commercial centre and a suburban extension of Melbourne.

However, often concealed among the spread of modern construction, are sign posts to these various stages of the city's history. Many development eras have also served to create a built environment which, unlike for example Melbourne's inner suburbs, is diverse in period, form and finish. Often there is no visual or heritage relationship between adjacent buildings except perhaps that which derives from a common use ie. quarter acre block detached housing or commercial/retail ship development. Hence, this report deals mainly with individual sites and during its production only three potential built heritage areas (Grimwade - St. Mirins groups at Baxter, The Pines Housing Commission Estate and the Gulls Way/Yamala area) were assessed. Continued >

View the map highlighting the areas covered by Stage 1 and Stage 2