Suburb Profile - Glendalough
Glendalough means "valley of the two lakes" and is appropriate because the suburb is located between Lake Monger and Herdsman Lake. The name honours a Catholic centre in Ireland in which a hermitage was established in the 17th century. The locality of Glendalough has a strong association with the Catholic Church. The northern portion passed through several orders of the Roman Catholic Church until 1921, when it was used by the Little Sisters of the Poor as the site for a rest home. In 1949 the State Housing Commission purchased part of Glendalough for subdivision and began to develop the area. Glendalough is characterised by a significant number of grouped and multiple unit residential developments, with older character housing interspersed throughout. The majority of post-war housing was built of brick and tile, often with timber floors. The unit developments were constructed around the 1970's and are concentrated around Harbourne Street and Cayley Street, adjacent to the Glendalough Railway Station which provides the local residents convenient access to public transport with many using it as a transfer station for buses to Scarborough Beach. With the exception of high-rise unit developments, the majority of residential development does not exceed two storeys. Glendalough contains little public open space. However, the suburb is located adjacent to the significant regional recreational reserves of Lake Monger and Herdsman Lake. There is a small shopping centre located on the corner of Powis Street and Harborne Street, which provides for local needs. Glendalough contains two schools, the Lake Monger Primary School and the Chrysalis Montessori School, as well as a senior citizens' home. Significant landmarks include the Glendalough Parish, originally built in 1898 as a reform school, and was the first building established by the Catholic Church within the boundaries of the City of Sti