Originally known as Park ville or Park-ville, the origins of the name are uncertain. The suburb may have been named after Royal Park. Park-ville was the name of one of the early homes along Flemington Road owned by the Ryan family in the 1870s and there was once a street in Hotham named Parkville street which may have led toward this home. Before the 1870s much of the area was known as either Hotham or Carlton and during this time Parkville was simply a locality of Carlton. The name Park Ville came into common use after 1875 and was gradually shortened to its current form.
University and beginnings
The first institution of significance erected in the Parkville area was the University of Melbourne in 1853. A housing estate commenced sales in 1861 at what is now Parkville South. In 1868 further excisions from Royal Park were made for housing estates at Parkville North along Royal Parade and Parkville West near Flemington Road. By the 1870s and 1880s, Parkville was a popular area for the middle class booming with affluent terrace housing becoming the norm.
Between the wars
During World War One and Two, Royal Park was the site of military encampments. Camp Pell in Royal Park was the temporary military camp for United States forces during the Second World War. During the post war era, Melbourne Hospital was moved to Parkville. in 1940 In the 1960s, Parkville became the new, and current home of the Victorian College of Pharmacy, on Royal Parade, which is now a campus of Monash University. The Athlete's Village for the 2006 Commonwealth Games was built on the grounds of the former Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital located in Parkville. The Athlete's Village has since been converted into a residential area known as Parkville Gardens.
Demographics
In the 2016 Census, there were 7,409 people in Parkville. 50.1% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were China 7.1%, Malaysia 3.7%, England 2.7%, New Zealand 2.3% and India 2.2%. 58.2% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 9.1%, Cantonese 2.8%, Spanish 1.4% and Italian 1.4%. The most common response for religion was No Religion at 45.2%.
Housing
The residential part of Parkville South, commenced in 1861 is a Conservation Area under the Register of the National Estate and contains almost all of the suburb's housing.
Educational institutions
University of Melbourne and associated residential colleges.
Royal Park, which Parkville was named after is the largest of Melbourne's inner city parks and is home to the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens. The park is home to a wide range of sports and wildlife. Royal Park is home to Parkville District Cricket Club, who are based at Brens Pavilion. Royal Park Golf Course is north of the Zoological Gardens.
