Hurstbridge, Victoria

Hurstbridge
Melbourne, Victoria
Hurstbridge
Coordinates 37°38′20″S 145°11′42″E / 37.63889°S 145.19500°E / -37.63889; 145.19500Coordinates: 37°38′20″S 145°11′42″E / 37.63889°S 145.19500°E / -37.63889; 145.19500
Population 3,511 (2011 census)[1]
 • Density 650/km2 (1,684/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 3099
Area 5.4 km2 (2.1 sq mi)
Location 34 km (21 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s) Shire of Nillumbik
State electorate(s) Yan Yean
Federal Division(s) Scullin
Suburbs around Hurstbridge:
Doreen Nutfield Cottles Bridge
Yarrambat Hurstbridge Panton Hill
Yarrambat Diamond Creek Wattle Glen

Hurstbridge is a town in Victoria, Australia, 26 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District. Its local government area is the Shire of Nillumbik. At the 2011 Census, Hurstbridge had a population of 3,511.[1]

Hurstbridge lies at the junction of Diamond Creek and Arthurs Creek.

History

Hurstbridge was first settled in 1842 by Cornelius Haley, a grazier. The area was originally known as Allwood, after the homestead built there. The town was renamed in 1924. The town's current name is from Henry Hurst, who built the first log bridge across the Diamond Creek, upstream from the present Monash Bridge. In 1866, Henry Hurst was fatally wounded by a bushranger, Robert Bourke. Bourke was captured and tied to a wheel of a wagon under a tree (now known as Bourke's Tree) until troopers from nearby Queenstown arrived. Bourke was tried and found guilty of the murder, and was later hanged.[2]

For many years the area was characterised by orchards and nurseries, and in 1912 a rail line was extended to Hurstbridge to transport fruit to Melbourne. As a result of this rail connection, a settlement started developing near the bridge. A Post Office opened in 1912, and the current single lane bridge designed by Sir John Monash opened in 1918. The township was originally known as Hurst's Bridge until 1915, and then Hurst Bridge until about 1954.[3] Further development of the town occurred in the Post-War years, and electricity was connected in 1957.[4]

The artist Albert Tucker moved to a 5-acre (20,000 m2) property in Hurstbridge in the 1960s, where he lived for many years. A series of paintings from the time depict the natural bushland around his property.

Today

The area includes a diverse mix of farmers, artists, commuters and tourists. Around Hurstbridge can be found a number of attractions including wineries, walking tracks and markets. Hurstbridge holds the annual Wattle Festival each spring, and a farmer's market each month.

It is serviced by regular train services to and from the Melbourne CBD at Hurstbridge Station.

On New Year's Day 2003 the local primary school was destroyed by fire when an air-conditioning unit malfunctioned, and was replaced in 2006 by a newly built primary school.

Hurstbridge has a football team playing in the Northern Football League, based at Ben Frilay Oval.[5] It has a cricket club playing in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association and has a basketball club, the Hurstbridge Hurricanes playing in the DVBA.

The late race car driving champion Peter Brock was raised in Hurstbridge, where he continued to live throughout his life.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Hurstbridge (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.hurstbridgeheritagetrail.websyte.com.au
  3. ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
  4. ↑ http://www.hurstbridgevillage.com.au
  5. ↑ Full Points Footy, Northern Football League, retrieved 15 April 2009
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