The land-use history of the Coburg Hill development site is surprisingly well documented. The traditional owners of the Merri Ck area, Wurundjeri-Willam (part of the Kulin Nation), have left a legacy of stories and artefacts, although their lands were drastically changed in the first few decades of the settlement of Melbourne. Archeological evidence of daily traditional life remains in numerous locations through the northern suburbs despite massive urban and industrial development in the area for over 150 years.

In 1995, a motion was put forward to nominate the Merri Creek for Heritage values on the National Estate, due to its cultural and archeological values. One document suggests that present day Northcote is where the European authorities (John Batman) and the traditional land owners (Kulin Nation elders) signed a treaty worth 243,000 hectares in exchange for European goods in 1835. Interestingly, this treaty was not upheld and declared invalid by the British Crown as did not recognise any land ownership ('terra nullius') in Australia, allowing colonisation to occur.

Growing up in Coburg, Cassy Twomey (nee McKay), explained her family's history of the area:
It began in 1887, when Cassy's great-grandfather purchased the land around Coburg Hill. John Mckay, a dairy farmer,  then passed it down to his son William in the 1920's. It was known as Hillcroft or Newlands Farm. The farming of this land was practised until 1977, when Kodak purchased the site, when the house and most of the buildings were removed. The McKay's then purchased farmland where Craigieburn is now located, however development of this region soon ensured its sale.


REFERENCES:
Faithfull., T (ed.) 2001, People of the Merri Merri,Merri Creek Management Committee, Brunswick

McKay homestead, Hillcroft farm, 1974,
just prior to demolition

William McKay, Hillcroft Farm, 1898

Masterplan showing projected housing density

The great Australian backyard - from quarter acre block - 1000m2 to a now 300m2 and getting smaller. This estate offers a range of housing densities - with 70-80 % projected to be fully detached 300-400 m2 lots. On offer are single storey 3 bedroom homes averaging around 160m2. However, to keep the pricepoint low, smaller townhouse allotments will become available in future stages of the development offering just 180m2 parcel of land. However, the design guidelines stipulate no more than 60% of the allotment can be covered, and 20% is required to have a permeable surface. 

Raingarden

Urban water runoff has been addressed in this estate with the installation of raingardens placed at intervals along the streets:

Raingardens are used in built-up areas to divert some of the rainwater away from the stormwater system, which can often become overloaded during a substantial rain event. Stormwater runoff can lead to increased pollution of local waterways, erosion and flooding. Raingardens can trap some of the runoff and filter the water through the plants and soil before it reaches the ground water or the local creek. 

The raingardens provide a nice contrast to the standard  naturestrips that have been installed inside the estate - kikuyu grass with a Ulmus parvifolia (Chinese Elm), a very common street tree in the neighbouring suburb of Reservoir. The streetscape has also been included in the above masterplan drawing.

Additionally, along the outer boundary of the estate landscaped naturestrips have popped up, planted with a preference for dry-tolerant natives including Correa, Dianella and Eucalyptus species. This instant landscape has been carefully designed to thrive with neglect and tolerate being planted in summer, receive little if any maintenance and appeal to the prospective home buyer. 

Coburg Hill - 20 hectares of new suburbia within 10km from CBD

The West Preston/Coburg North vibe will be forever changed (display homes due to open in August) when this sizable patch of land adjacent to Edgars Creek is developed. As a local, to me this site represented a crossways of industrial creek frontage and old-style housing built for WW1 vets back in the day. It was also a monument to the advent of the digital camera, as the old decrepit Kodak building where film was made is visible. This area of the site has really good views of the city. Nearby is the Coburg Drive-In, another relic of the past still standing.  
According to the Melways there are several public open space areas planned for this area and new bike paths, linking in the the Merri Creek trail at Coburg Lake. The importance for open space in the northern suburbs rates pretty highly with me. It is an exposed elevated site which is probably the least of concerns when it comes to planning these spaces. 
http://www.street-directory.com.au/sd3/map.php?q=coburg%20hill

School perimeter mixed natives planting - interesting blend of advertising and landscaping. Seems a bit strange that it is fenced on both footpath side and school side - to deter vandals perhaps?
For maximum marketing value, the developers have added a couple of signs "Landscaping proudly supplied by" in this small landscape. It is amazing there was room for all these signs and plants in the one small stretch.