Population 3,511 (2011 census) LGA(s) Shire of Nillumbik Hurstbridge Panton Hill Postal code 3099 | Postcode(s) 3099 State electorate(s) Yan Yean Area 5.4 km² Federal division Division of Scullin | |
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Location 34 km (21 mi) from Melbourne | ||
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.
Contents
Map of Hurstbridge VIC 3099, Australia
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 Upper Diamond Creek, or Allwood, after the homestead built there on Haley's selection. The town was renamed in 1924. The town's current name is from the Hurst family. Henry Hurst worked for Haley, and in 1857 was joined by his father Robert, mother and siblings. The Hurst's took over from Haley, The Hurst's built the first log bridge across the Diamond Creek in 1858, 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 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. 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.