Canterbury is a prosperous suburb of Melbourne, Australia.  It is perhaps the railway station of Canterbury that is the main reason why the suburb exists in the first place.  The railway was opened in 1882 at which time Canterbury really started to expand.  Before the railway the area of Canterbury was a semi-rural region that attracted very few people.  The few people that did live in Canterbury were well off and could afford to live outside of the city of Melbourne.   

In 1885 Claremont Park Estate, the first subdivision of Canterbury was developed.  This subdivision was found in the region of Canterbury Road, Prospect Hill Road, and Logan Street.  It was also at this time that Monomeath Manor was built on about 7 hectares, by a man by the name of Edward Snowden.  The Snowden estate was then subdivided in 1900 to form what is now known as Monomeath Avenue.  In 1911 Monomeath Avenue was paved, with oak trees planted so as to line the street.  Today this area of Canterbury is well known for its wealth and beauty.