Arthurs Creek
Arthurs Creek | |||||||||||||
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  Arthurs Creek Location in metropolitan Melbourne | |||||||||||||
 Interactive map of Arthurs Creek | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates: 37°35′S 145°12′E / 37.583°S 145.200°E | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Victoria | ||||||||||||
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| • Total | 478 (2021 census)[2] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode | 3099 | ||||||||||||
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Arthurs Creek is a locality in Victoria, Australia, 33 kilometres north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Nillumbik local government area. Arthurs Creek recorded a population of 478 at the 2021 census.
It is named after Henry Arthur,[3] a member of John Batman's Port Phillip Association and nephew of George Arthur, a governor of Tasmania. Another source says that it was named by the surveyor Thomas Nutt, supposedly because one of his party, a Mr Arthur, died and was buried in this location.[4]
History
The proclamation of the Duffy Land Act in 1862 saw the beginning of the permanent settlement at Arthurs Creek.[5] Arthurs Creek began as a horticultural settlement with numerous orchards, with the Post Office opening on 7 October 1889 (it closed in 1972).[6] After the First World War, cattle and sheep farms replaced orchards as the principal industry. Today, the land-holdings of Arthurs Creek are a mixture of smaller farm properties including vineyards, orchards, and life-style properties.
The township centre of Arthurs Creek consists of the Arthurs Creek Primary School established in 1876, the Mechanic's Institute Hall, the Arthurs Creek & Strathewen CFA Station, and the former Uniting Church built it 1873, which has become the Arthurs Creek Community Centre. There is also a cricket oval known as Ryders Flat Reserve, and the Arthurs Creek Cemetery, formerly known as the 'Hazel Glen Cemetery' which was established by Patrick Reid as a private burial ground for his young wife Agnes (née Hay) who died on 17 May 1847 at the early age of 49. Agnes had expressed a wish to be buried at her favourite picnic spot on the nearby hilltop overlooking the Hazel Glen homestead and former Stewart's Ponds pastoral run.[7]
Members of the local community commenced work on the Mechanics's Institute hall in 1886, and a grand concert and ball to celebrate the official opening was held on the evening of Friday 2 September 1887.[8] A public library was later added.[4]
Historical residents of Arthurs Creek include Frank Dalby Davison, the author of novels such as Man-shy and Dusty. Davison lived on a property called "Folding Hills" from 1951 to 1970.[9]
Arthurs Creek was hit by the Black Saturday bushfires in February 2009. The East Kilmore fire hit parts of Arthurs Creek and adjoining communities of Strathewen, Kinglake and St Andrews.[10]
Facilities
Arthurs Creek Cemetery, first called Linton, was gazetted as a cemetery in 1867.[4]
Arthurs Creek Primary School is situated at 900 Arthurs Creek Road, Arthurs Creek VIC 3099, and is a Prep to Grade 6 school.[11] It was opened in 1876. The school and schoolhouse was burnt in 1962 and a new school was built in 1963.[4]
A Mobile library services Arthurs Creek which is managed by Yarra Plenty Regional Library[12]
The Mechanics Institute Hall is located at 906 Arthurs Creek Road, Arthurs Creek, and is a function room available for hire. It is run and maintained by the Arthurs Creek Hall committee.[13]
See also
- City of Whittlesea – Arthurs Creek was previously within this local government area.
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Arthurs Creek (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Arthurs Creek (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Pioneers honored". The Age. 6 September 1977. p. 3. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d Murphy, James T. (1971). Early Settlers of Arthurs Creek, Victoria. Arthurs Creek, Vic.: [self-published].
- ^ Nankervis, Peter (2015). Arthurs Creek snapshots from the past. Momento. p. 1.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 10 April 2021
- ^ Draper, Bruce G. (April 2012). "Arthurs Creek Cemetery – A Simple Tour". Up The Creek Victoria.
- ^ Draper, Bruce G. (April 2004). "Arthurs Creek Mechanics Institute and Free Library". Up the Creek: Early Days in the Arthurs Creek District.
- ^ Frank Dalby Davison
- ^ The Australian, Feb 16 2009
- ^ "Arthurs Creek Primary School". January 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- ^ "Locations, Timetable & Facilities | YPRL Mobile Library". Yarra Plenty Regional Library. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ "Hall for Hire, Arthurs Creek Mechanics Institute". January 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
External links
- Australian Places - Arthurs Creek
- Victorian Places - Arhurs Creek
- Up the Creek: a collection of published and unpublished historical articles by Bruce G. Draper
Localities in the Shire of Nillumbik | ||
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