Reservoir is an established suburb with standard brick or weatherboard homes, and an increasing number of new developments. The suburb contains popular recreation areas and facilities, including Edwardes Lake and the Reservoir Leisure Centre, and is home to the Edwardes Street and Broadway shopping strips.
The land which became the suburb of Reservoir was first surveyed by Robert Hoddle in 1837, and was formed from parts of both the Jika Jika Parish and Keelbundoora Parish.[3]
The Rose Shamrock Hotel, formerly known as The Rose Shamrock & Thistle Hotel, opened on Plenty Road in 1854.[4] Reservoir post office opened around 1921.[5] Reservoir became a suburb at that time, with the name coming from the three water reservoirs first built in 1863.[6]
The reservoirs were collectively known as Preston Reservoir, which continue to form part of the fresh water supplied to Melbourne's inner and western suburbs.[7] The Maroondah Aqueduct was built in 1886–1891, to supply water to the Preston Reservoir from a diversion weir on the Watts River, which was dammed in 1927 to form Maroondah Reservoir.[8]
In 1914, Thomas Dyer Edwardes donated an area of 34 acres (14 hectares) of land to the people of the City of Preston, which was developed into Edwardes Lake Park.[9] Between 1919 and 1939, swimming was officially permitted in the lake, overseen by the Preston Lifesaving Club, and regular demonstrations of swimming and lifesaving techniques were given.[10]
Overview
[edit]Reservoir aerial panorama facing Melbourne skyline. February 2024Reservoir aerial panorama facing north toward the Great Dividing Range. February 2024.Edwardes Lake in Reservoir with the Preston Athletic Club in the middle of the frame. March 2024.Edwardes Lake panorama facing the Melbourne skyline. March 2024.
Reservoir is close to the Northland Shopping Centre, Preston Market, Sydney Road shops and restaurants and one of three remaining drive-in cinemas in Melbourne, the VillageinCoburg. The area is experiencing unprecedented growth, with plenty of new developments.
Summerhill Shopping Centre in Reservoir facing the Melbourne skyline. February 2024.
The most common ancestries in Reservoir were, according to the 2016 census, Italian 17.1%, Australian 14.8%, English 13.9%, Greek 6.3% and Irish 5.1%. 55.9% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were Italy 8.2%, India 4.4%, China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) 3.2%, Greece 3.0% and Vietnam 1.8%.
(West Preston to Victoria Harbour Docklands), terminating at the southern end of Reservoir on Gilbert Road, and 
(Bundoora RMITtoWaterfront City Docklands), passing through Reservoir along Plenty Road.
