Clayton, located 19 km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD, has a history rooted in farming and small-town beginnings. The area was first occupied for agriculture in the 1850s and took its name from "Clayton Vale," a property owned by lawyer John Hughes Clayton in the 1860s. In 1862, a primary school was established at the corner of Dandenong Road and Clayton Road to serve the wider district, later becoming Clayton North Primary School in 1954.

The construction of the railway to Dandenong and Gippsland in 1878, approximately 1 km south of Dandenong Road, spurred the creation of a second township around the intersection with Clayton Road. The local Post Office, initially named Clayton’s Road Railway Station, opened on 18 November 1887 and was renamed Clayton in 1891, marking the formal recognition of the suburb.

At the turn of the 20th century, Clayton’s rural lands and close proximity to Melbourne attracted important institutions, including the Talbot Colony for Epileptics—later the site of Monash University—and a Women’s Convalescent Home. During this period, the community mainly consisted of farms, three hotels, two churches, a tennis court, and a handful of shops. Key industries included market gardening, fruit cultivation, and a municipal abattoir.

The 1960s marked a turning point for Clayton as urbanization and industrial development led to the rapid decline of market gardens. Education infrastructure expanded, with Oakleigh High School opening in 1955, followed by a second primary school at Clayton South in 1956. Clayton East Post Office opened in 1958, operating until its closure in 1979, reflecting the growing population and suburban expansion.

From its humble beginnings as farmland and a small township, Clayton has evolved into a diverse, urban suburb, retaining links to its agricultural past while accommodating residential, commercial, and educational growth. Today, Clayton blends historical significance with modern amenities, offering a thriving community in Melbourne’s southeast.