The area was originally home to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, before British colonisation and settlement of the Melbourne area started in 1835. The Glenroy Estate bounded by the Moonee Ponds Creek, Camp Rd, the Northern Golf Club and Rhodes Parade, was purchased in Sydney in 1838 by speculators, Hughes and Hosking. The Camerons may have owned it as part of a Run before survey or just leased it from the speculators, and are credited with giving Glenroy its name. However, Donald Angus Kennedy, who bought the estate in the mid 1840s, bestowed the name according to his 1864 obituary in The Argus. Kennedy's mother was Grace. Initial development in the area started with a small settlement around the North East railway line at the end of the 19th Century, with the Glenroy Post Office opening on 22 October 1888. After World War II significant development occurred when organisations such as Australian National Airways, the War Services Homes Commission and the Housing Commission of Victoria developed large areas of Glenroy. Residential development continued rapidly through the 1950s, and a Glenroy East Post Office opened in 1958.
People
In the 2016 Census, there were 22,245 people in Glenroy. 49.3% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were India 6.3%, Italy 4.0%, Pakistan 4.0%, Nepal 3.5% and Lebanon 2.4%. 41.6% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Arabic 8.4%, Italian 6.1%, Urdu 4.5%, Turkish 4.2% and Nepali 3.8%. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 27.2%, Islam 18.7% and No Religion 17.1%.
Glenroy is served by three stations at which Metro Trains operate services to and from the Melbourne CBD. Glenroy and Jacana stations are located on the Craigieburn line in the west of the suburb, whilst Gowrie station is located on the Upfield line which forms part of the suburb's eastern boundary. Four regular bus routes serve Glenroy:
The Moonee Ponds Creek Trail and the Western Ring Road Trail provide facilities for recreational and commuting cyclists. Prominent road infrastructure is also provided, with Pascoe Vale Road running through the east of the suburb and the Western Ring Road forming the suburb's northern boundary. Other arterials within the suburb include Daley Street, Glenroy Road, Hilton Street,Plumton Avenue, and Widford Street.
Sport
, an Australian rules football team, competes in the Essendon District Football League. The club was founded in 1946. Golfers play at the course of the Northern Golf Club on Glenroy Road. Glenroy is home to the Glenroy Cricket Club, who compete in the VTCA. The club shares their home ground with the Glenroy Football Club and is located on the north-east corner of the Northern Golf Club, on Glenroy Road. Glenroy is home to professional track star Mina Eskander.
Landmarks and notable places
The following places in Glenroy are listed in the Victorian Heritage Register:
The following places are covered by Heritage Overlay controls in the Moreland Planning Scheme:
