Ringwood: How much of a local are you?
It’s home to Eastland, a few trashy nightclubs and the Cadbury factory, and has transformed from an outer east rough spot into a booming activity centre. See how well you know Ringwood.
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It’s home to 17,500 people and has transformed from an outer east rough spot into a booming activity centre.
Indeed, Ringwood has a colourful history and has been the butt of a few jokes in the past.
But the suburb is rapidly developing as a hub for development with plenty of great amenities and transport links.
Eastland — which underwent a massive $660 million transformation which finished in 2016 — is widely seen as Ringwood’s mecca, particularly with its town square, the REALM library and the railway station all nearby.
But there’s plenty of other attractions and landmarks — past and present — within the suburb.
See how well you know Ringwood and how much of a local you really are.
YOU’VE HUNG OUT THE FRONT OF RINGWOOD STATION WITH YOUR MATES
It might have undergone a huge $66 million revamp in 2016, but one thing has remained constant at Ringwood railway station — the groups of school kids and youths gathering on its front steps.
Most are harmless and are bored with nothing better to do, but sadly others have been caught up in fights and various incidents which have required police attention.
In fact, crime statistics show Ringwood is still the most dangerous railway station in Melbourne’s east.
YOU HAD A SKITTLEBOMB AT DAKOTA, PARTIED AT ORANGE WHIP OR WENT TO AN OVER 28’S NIGHT AT DAISEYS
Ahh, Ringwood’s infamous clubbing scene, which is universally loved or laughed at.
Some party animals have a history of religiously hitting up the Maroondah Highway strip without fail every weekend while others go for an occasional trashy night.
Filling the void after Jooce closed down, Orange Whip opened in the late 2000s and is still standing, while next door neighbour Dakota, which started out as Denim Lounge in the early 2000s, was destroyed by fire in 2016.
Its grand $8m rebuild is almost complete and the new nightclub, Baby, is set to open alongside a hot dog shop once coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
Meanwhile, Daiseys days appear to be numbered, with New Zealand’s Ryman Healthcare working on its plans for a $150 million retirement village after it bought the Mt Dandenong Rd site last year.
YOU’VE WATCHED A BIG BOXING BOUT AT THE MANHATTAN HOTEL
Speaking of places to party, ‘The Hat’ is another much-loved Maroondah drinking hole, and has hosted its fair share of gigs and party nights through the years.
It boasts a massive outdoor screen perfect for watching big sports matches, and it usually gets packed out when there’s massive UFC fights or boxing bouts on Main Event.
Things got particularly rowdy there five years ago, with a massive brawl between six people following a Conor McGreggor fight which only lasted 13 seconds.
YOU’VE GONE FOR A WALK AROUND RINGWOOD LAKE
With its playgrounds, picnic spots and barbecue facilities, Ringwood Lake Park is a huge family favourite.
It’s also not a bad spot for a quick jog or walk with the dog, and there’s plenty of ducks and birds for younger ones to look at, too.
Sadly, the park also has a tragic past, after Mt Evelyn 21-year-old Kane Dadson fell into the lake and drowned in May 2009.
He was last seen partying with mates at nearby Dakota nightclub earlier in the night and police believed his death was an accident.
YOU’VE PASSED THE CADBURY FACTORY … AND REALLY WANTED TO GO INSIDE
The chocolate giant’s Victorian plant has been operating in Ringwood for more than 50 years and is one of only two in Australia, with the other one in Tasmania.
All your favourite bars — Boost, Cherry Ripe, Picnic and Crunchie – are made there, as are all of Cadbury’s Easter products and other speciality items.
Unfortunately for those with Willy Wonka-esque dreams, it’s not open for public tours.
But staff and emergency services workers can get access to a shop which sells discounted goodies and excess stock.
YOU’VE PLAYED BASKETBALL AT ‘THE RINGS’
Right opposite the Cadbury factory is the hub for basketball in Maroondah — The Rings — and the home of the Ringwood Hawks.
It boasts four courts, including one with a big grandstand, and changerooms surrounded by some weird netting in the middle.
If you played junior basketball in the outer east, chances are the bulk of your games were here or at Nunawading basketball stadium, and you’d stock up on frogs or other lollies at the canteen afterwards.
YOU’VE PAID YOUR RESPECTS AT THE RINGWOOD CLOCKTOWER
The heritage-listed clocktower rings out every hour on the hour, and was conceived as a war memorial for local servicemen and servicewomen in 1928.
It was moved to its site on the corner of Wantirna Rd and Maroondah Hwy in 1967 with the mooted development of Eastland.
Ringwood’s RSL sub-branch, which is located nearby on the other side of the railway line, hosts the suburb’s ANZAC Day service at the clocktower. The service can sometimes attract up to 3000 people.
YOU’VE GONE ON A SHOPPING SPREE AT COSTCO
The US bulk buy retailer caused a stir in 2012 when it announced it would open its second Melbourne store in Ringwood, at the suburb’s old market site.
The huge 14,500sq m warehouse opened to much fanfare in 2013 and continues to attract new members today, who are keep to stock up on everything from electronics to homewares, food and giant bears.
YOU’VE HAD A SKATE AT THE RINGWOOD SKATEPARK
Right next to Costco, you’ll find the Staley Gardens, which is home to the Ringwood skatepark.
It’s been another popular youth hangout and a place for budding skaters to learn new skills.
But it has also had a few crime problems in the past, with its CCTV cameras repeatedly getting damaged and being moved to different locations.
YOU WENT ICE SKATING AT ICELAND
Here’s a blast from the past.
Iceland was the place to be in the 1970s with its ice skating rink providing the perfect setting for many date nights.
And it hosted gigs too, with the likes of a very young AC/DC, Cold Chisel and Rose Tattoo cutting their teeth there.
It was managed by Pat and Nancy Burley until 1982 and eventually closed in 2005.
An outdoor gardening and furniture company moved in for a few years, and the buildings were eventually demolished last year to make way for the new East End development.
YOU’VE REACHED THE END OF EASTLINK
If you’ve cruised down the giant toll road — but decided to not go into the tunnel which takes you to the Eastern Freeway, you’re on Ringwood’s front doorstep.
And a new landmark will emerge there in a few years at the former Iceland site on Maroondah Hwy, with the creation of the gigantic three-tower East End precinct.
It will boast a fancy AC Marriott hotel, a retail precinct, co-working space and luxury apartment towers up to 19-storeys.
MORE: THE BEST AND WORST MAROONDAH SUBURBS