Rural Camps and Rural Settlements

The Langwarrin Military Establishment

One of the most notable events in the early history of the area east of Frankston was the opening of a military camp at Langwarrin in the 1880s in response to the fear of a Russian invasion of Australia.1 It was one of a number of military establishments opened on the Mornington Peninsula at the time. The choice of Langwarrin, as with the other military establishments on the Peninsula, related to the district's location, which combined easy access by road and rail to the city with proximity to the Frankston district, recognised as a recreational and healthful environment. The well-established transport routes between the district and Western Port Bay was another important factor, as many believed that the Russian invaders would land at Western Port and then advance on Melbourne.2

In December 1886 a 109 acre site was permanently reserved as a military camp at Langwarrin. After three more transfers, the Military Reserve on Crown Allotments 51 and 51C, Parish of Langwarrin, was extended to its present 509 acres. An irregular site, it extended to Taylor (now North Road) on the north, along Camp Road (now McClelland Drive) on the west, to Warrandyte Road on the east, and down to Robinsons Road on the south.3

From Easter 1887 the Victorian Government used the Reserve for a variety of military purposes. An 1887 Mornington Peninsula map shows the Langwarrin Army Camp with its parade ground and roads "named for military purposes only". Some of the new names included Napoleon, Wellington and Marlborough, and the names of popular colonial Governors Darling, Barkly and Hotham.4

The Military Reserve became an important district landmark and tourist site, and attracted development in the vicinity. As we have seen, a railway station was built on the other side of Camp Road and a school was opened within the Defence Ground. There was an attempt in March 1888 to establish "Aldershot ... a New Military Township ... immediately facing the Permanent Camp of the Victoria Forces". An advertisement in 'The Age' offered 451 business and villa sites "with the railway station on the land". It was pointed out that the Victorian Government had carefully chosen a site with "a central and commanding position" to "protect the capital in a vulnerable point".5

At Federation in 1901, the military reserve passed to the Commonwealth Government. Various military activities continued there until 1979. In 1980 it was leased to the Ministry of Conservation as a flora and fauna reserve to be managed by the National Parks Service. This followed a study by Winty Calder in 1975 commissioned by the Shire of Cranbourne. This study documented the reserve's natural and historical features and highlighted its conservation values.6