Population 7,289 (2011 census) Postcode(s) 3437 Elevation 443 m Postal code 3437 | Established 1851 Founded 1851 Local time Tuesday 7:15 PM | |
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Location 51 km (32 mi) NW of Melbourne18 km (11 mi) NW of Sunbury97 km (60 mi) SE of Bendigo81 km (50 mi) E of Ballarat Weather 28°C, Wind SE at 13 km/h, 32% Humidity | ||
Gisborne /ˈɡɪzbərn/ is a town approximately 55 kilometres (34 mi) north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The town was named after Henry Fyshe Gisborne (1815–1841), the first Commissioner for Crown Lands of the Port Phillip District. Gisborne is part of the Shire of Macedon Ranges.
Contents
Map of Gisborne VIC 3437, Australia
History
In 1834, John Aitken arrived in Melbourne with others and deemed the land south of Mount Macedon ideally suited to sheep grazing. He selected a sizeable area of land and in the following year, shipped merino sheep from Tasmania. Despite his ship running aground at Dromana, Aitken managed to rescue many of his flock and transport them to the Gisborne area with the help of aborigines. He named his property "Emmeline Vale," after his wife Emmeline. Aitken reared six children on the property and produced some of the finest merino wool in the Colony.
From the late 1830s, many pastoralists, arriving from Tasmania and New South Wales, began taking up areas of land in the surrounding districts. The first recorded settlers were: Barbour and Matson, who settled at Bullengarook, Hill at the "Turitable Run" south of Mount Macedon, Stainforth in the area around the present Rosslynne Reservoir, and Aitken and Howey in the area to be later known as Gisborne.
Gisborne Post Office opened on 22 March 1850 as Bush Inn but was renamed Gisborne ten days later.
Today
Gisborne township has a population of just over 7000 residents, and consists of two primary schools and one secondary school, Gisborne Secondary College. There are a number of cafes, bakeries, fruiters, delicatessens, restaurant-pubs and three supermarkets, Foodworks, IGA and Coles, which help make up the town centre. Gisborne has a full-time police station in conjunction with the CFA station and medical-ambulance facilities. Gisborne has public outdoor sporting facilities for AFL football, cricket, soccer, tennis, netball gymnastics and lawn bowls as well as a heated indoor pool. Access to Gisborne from the Melbourne CBD is a 45-minute drive down the Calder Freeway. It is a popular destination because of its regional setting and open spaces whilst still being a comfortable distance from the city.