Population 793 (2006 census) LGA(s) Shire of Yarra Ranges The Patch Monbulk Postal code 3792 | Postcode(s) 3792 State electorate(s) Monbulk Elevation 301 m Federal division Division of Casey | |
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Location 39 km (24 mi) from Melbourne
7 km (4 mi) from Belgrave | ||
The Patch is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 39 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its local government area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges. At the 2006 census, The Patch had a population of 793.
Contents
Map of The Patch VIC 3792, Australia
History
In the 1860s a timber-cutter felled a stand of black-butts for palings, and the cleared area ten years later was found to be a grassed patch of land. It was named The Patch. A part of Monbulk has come under the locality now considered to be The Patch.
Farming selections became available in the 1890s, many coming under berry production. The Post Office opened on 1 September 1908. A Post Office also opened at Fairy Dell on 1 July 1916 and closed in 1971.
Berry growing supplied the Monbulk jam factory as well as metropolitan markets. The Anglican church was built in 1934, the community hall in the 1950s and the primary school in 1983-4. The hall is near the post office (which is also the general store) and the school. The Patch contains area previously known as Coonan and Fairy Dell. Its census population in 1933 was 88 and in 1947 it was 195. It remains a small township and scenic area.
The Town today
The Patch is a very small suburb and consists only of houses, a community hall, a primary school, several commercial nurseries a general store and a tennis court. Most of the suburb is classified "Rural Residential".