Historical information

McKinnon was a small community in East Brighton settled mainly by market gardeners but it had a State School, Churches, a hotel opened by Thomas Bent's father, Post Office and some shops. After WW1 land close to the railway line began to be sold and new homes and various shops were built. A Progress League was well supported and new hall built. McKinnon Rd Shopping precinct did not prosper as expected and some attribute this to the failure to secure the Hoyts picture theatre c 1925. Hoyts instead built the theatre in Centre Rd Bentleigh and this took a lot of trade away from the shops in McKinnon Rd.

Significance

McKinnon was settled by market gardeners and after the train line arrived more houses and shops were built so that the small community developed through the 20thC

Physical description

Black & White photograph showing the crowd of local residents celebrating the opening of the McKinnon Progress hall c1925