My suburb changed its name decades ago, but everyone’s still confused |
We inspected our first (and forever) home on the same day that I found the engagement ring of my dreams. It was 2011, and we travelled from the ring shop in Eltham, through the bush, via Warrandyte. We started to see suburbs I never knew existed. Park Orchards is so unique it blew my mind; it’s like stepping back in time.
Further down the winding roads, we arrived at the home for inspecting. Looking at the photos online, I hadn’t been keen. I thought it looked like overgrown and tacky like an ’80s restaurant. Lucky for us, the photos were terrible – in person, it was perfect.
At a time when all our young and hip friends were enjoying city life, we chose to settle in leafy Ringwood North. My husband and I are old souls and delighted in our suburban lifestyle. Nowadays, Ringwood North is like the doorstep to Melbourne with its access to Eastlink and the Eastern Freeway. Back in 2011, I don’t think its prime location had been fully realised, and luckily for us, the house price reflected that.
Ringwood North was recognised as its own suburb, separate from Ringwood in the 1990s. Some people ask whether it is Ringwood North, as in Ringwood North Primary School, or North Ringwood, as in North Ringwood Preschool. Or is it Norwood, as in Norwood Secondary College, which is officially in Ringwood? The answer is that one is the official name, and the others are used in the context of landmarks. Confused? Yeah, we all are.
Family businesses are the vibe at the Ringwood North shops, especially when Julia’s Woodfired Pizza, This Little Kitchen cafe and Mastika ice-cream are family to........