The Glenroy Estate bounded by the Moonee Ponds Creek, Camp Road, the Northern Golf Club (inclusively) and Rhodes Parade, was purchased in Sydney in 1838 by speculators Hughes and Hosking.

The Camerons may have owned it as part of a Run before survey or just leased it from the speculators, and are credited with giving Glenroy its name.

[2] Initial development in the area started with a small settlement around the North East railway line at the end of the 19th century, with the Glenroy Post Office opening on 22 October 1888.

Residential development continued rapidly through the 1950s, and a Glenroy East Post Office opened in 1958 (closing in 1977).

Glenroy is served by three railway stations at which Metro Trains operate services to and from the Melbourne CBD.