Light to moderate snowfalls occur on Mount Dandenong a few times most years, mostly frequently between late winter and late spring. The area around Mount Dandenong experienced a highly unusual summer snow fall on Christmas Day 2006.[2]
History
Originally the town was to be named Mount Corhanwarrabul, but due to the problems that were foreseen with the spelling and pronunciation of this name, the Surveyor-General's office opted to name it Mount Dandenong. However, today there is still a Mount Corhanwarrabul, which is on the site of Burkes Lookout. The town of Mount Dandenong was settled in 1893, along with a neighbouring town, Olinda. It was around this time that the Government established 10-acre (40,000 m2) farms that would be used to harvest timber.
By around 1900 the town had its own general store and primary school. The Post Office, opened in 1902, was closed and replaced by one at Kalorama in 1991. In 1922 the first motorcars were seen in operation in Mount Dandenong.
A proposal around 2002 for the building of a large "Melbourne" sign on the mountain, similar to the Hollywood sign, was vigorously opposed and not pursued.[3]
Climate
Mount Dandenong has a cool oceanic climate (Cfb), with cool to mild summers and cold, damp winters. Daytime temperatures are usually 4−6 °C cooler than downtown Melbourne due to its elevation and distance from the urban heat island effect of Melbourne. It is significantly cloudier than Melbourne, particularly in the winter due to the heavy orographic lifting brought about by cold fronts.
Climate data for Mount Dandenong GTV9 (1968−1986, rainfall to 2007); 600 m AMSL; 37.83° S, 145.35° E
^Wotherspoon, Sarah (15 November 2006). "Rain hits the target". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 14 September 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2006.