Hurstbridge, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Hurstbridge is a semi-rural town in Victoria
, Australia
, 26 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district
, at the junction of Diamond Creek and Arthur's Creek. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Nillumbik
. At the 2006 Census, Hurstbridge had a population of 3448.
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. Further development of the town occurred in the Post-War years, and electricity was connected in 1957.
The artist Albert Tucker
moved to a 5 acres (20,234.3 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.
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. It has a cricket club playing in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association.
The late race car driving champion Peter Brock
was raised in Hurstbridge, where he continued to live throughout his life.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 26 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district
Melbourne city centre
Melbourne City Centre is an area of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is not to be confused with the larger local government area of the City of Melbourne...
, at the junction of Diamond Creek and Arthur's Creek. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Nillumbik
Shire of Nillumbik
The Shire of Nillumbik is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It contains some outer northern suburbs of Melbourne and rural localities beyond the urban area. It has an area of 435 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 62,837 people...
. At the 2006 Census, Hurstbridge had a population of 3448.
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.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. Further development of the town occurred in the Post-War years, and electricity was connected in 1957.
The artist Albert Tucker
Albert Tucker (artist)
Albert Lee Tucker , a pivotal Australian artist, was a member of the Heide Circle, a group of leading modernist artists and writers that centred on the art patrons John and Sunday Reed, whose home, "Heide", located in Bulleen, near Heidelberg , was a haven for the group...
moved to a 5 acres (20,234.3 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.
The Town 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
Hurstbridge Football Club
Hurstbridge Football Club is an Australian rules football club located 34 km north east of Melbourne in the township of Hurstbridge. The club is affiliated with the Northern Football League....
playing in the Northern Football League, based at Ben Frilay Oval. It has a cricket club playing in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association.
The late race car driving champion Peter Brock
Peter Brock
Peter Geoffrey Brock, AM otherwise known as "Peter Perfect", "The King of the Mountain" or simply as "Brocky" was one of Australia's best-known and most successful motor racing drivers. Brock was most often associated with Holden for almost 40 years, although he raced vehicles of other...
was raised in Hurstbridge, where he continued to live throughout his life.
External links
- Hurstbridge Online
- Nillumbik Shire - Information on Hurstbridge
- Hurstbridge Wattle Festival
- Hurstbridge Primary School