History Mystery Monday: How did Aberfeldie get its name?

Aberfeldie is a lovely suburb in Moonee Valley with plenty of green spaces, and has its southern border along the Maribyrnong river. But how did it get its interesting name?

The land which would become Aberfeldie Estate was purchased from the crown by Mr. James Robertson in 1845. The homestead was the first house built in the area, and was located on the corner of what are now Aberfeldie Street and Park Crescent. Mr. Robertson took the name from the market town of Aberfeldy in Scotland- quick Google reveals that Aberfeldy is also located along a lovely stretch of river, so perhaps that was the inspiration for the name!

Aberfeldie was known for it’s grazing land, and often hosted cattle inspections and auctions in the 1850s-1880s. The Aberfeldie Coursing Association (of which Mr. Robertson was president) also held many successful meets on the property, and the Aberfeldie Plate a well-known greyhound event.

Aberfeldie Estate Land Sale, 1888

Back when Mr. Robertson bought his land it was part of Essendon, but when the estate was sold in 1888, it became the namesake of the area (although it wasn’t officially gazetted as a suburb until 1998- the Sands & MacDougall Directories for Melbourne skip straight from Abbotsford to Albert Park!).

There is a tiny remaining piece of the original Aberfeldie Estate- a section of the original stables on Combermere St. These building are a very rare example of buildings from the 1860s, and as such have local historic and architectural significance.

From a small market town in Scotland to a riverside suburb in Melbourne, Mr. James Robertson is the missing link.

James Robertson of Aberfeldie, c.1862-1873

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