Melbourne Allotment Holders Association Ltd. is one of a small number of allotment sites in Britain which are member-owned. The association was founded after the First World War in 1919.

The original gardeners each raised their share of the £800 purchase price and took possession of the “Hilly Fields” site, on completion of the purchase from Melbourne Estates, in March 1921.With fees retained at the very lowest level, the first 100 years of gardening have been relatively free of financial stress, allowing local people to enjoy the benefits of growing their own produce.