Whittlesea, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Whittlesea is a town in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia, 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) north-east from Melbourne's central business district
. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea
. At the 2006 Census, Whittlesea had a population of 4,563.
The railway to Whittlesea was opened on 23 December 1889 as an extension to what is now the Epping line, and closed in December 1959.
On the day of February 7 and subsequent days thereafter, Whittlesea acted as a focal point of for firefighting and relief efforts during the Black Saturday bushfires. In a firefighting context Whittlesea fire station and it's members play an important role in managing firefighting operations around the Mount Disappointment and Kinglake areas. The township also acted as a focal point for relief efforts, attracting support from the larger Victorian and Australian communities
.
, Whittlesea lies outside the urban growth boundaries of the Melbourne 2030
metropolitan development plan. It is therefore expected to maintain its status as a separate town until 2030 and beyond. City of Whittlesea planning policy for Whittlesea township envisages minimal growth over the next decade, so that the township will retain its rural character.
The town has a local volunteer fire brigade (CFA)
as well as limited hours Police station
. On the 22 January 2009 Health Minister Daniel Andrews opened an ambulance station in Whittlesea, this station operates between the hours of 10 am and 10 pm daily. This a 2006 state election promised made by the Bracks Labor Government
An emergency relief centre has been established at Whittlesea for the 2009 Victorian bushfires.
Local attractions include the Funfields Fun Park toboggan park, Torourrong Reservoir, Yan Yean Reservoir
, Bear's Castle
and the old Court House (Now a tourist information center) http://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/files/1812_DEV%20BULL%2006.indd.pdf.
, an Australian Rules football
team, competes in the Northern Football League.
Golfers play at the course of the Whittlesea Country Club on Humevale Road in neighbouring Humevale
.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
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, 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) 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...
. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea
City of Whittlesea
The City of Whittlesea is a Local Government Area located in the outer northeastern suburbs of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covers an area of , and has an estimated population of 155,113 people.-History:...
. At the 2006 Census, Whittlesea had a population of 4,563.
History
The Post Office opened on 1 September 1853 as Plenty and was renamed Whittlesea in 1864. A school opened in a single stone building in 1878 and is to this day home to Whittlesea Primary School.The railway to Whittlesea was opened on 23 December 1889 as an extension to what is now the Epping line, and closed in December 1959.
On the day of February 7 and subsequent days thereafter, Whittlesea acted as a focal point of for firefighting and relief efforts during the Black Saturday bushfires. In a firefighting context Whittlesea fire station and it's members play an important role in managing firefighting operations around the Mount Disappointment and Kinglake areas. The township also acted as a focal point for relief efforts, attracting support from the larger Victorian and Australian communities
.
Today
Although located only a few kilometers from the outer fringes of metropolitan MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Whittlesea lies outside the urban growth boundaries of the Melbourne 2030
Melbourne 2030
The Metropolitan Strategy Melbourne 2030 is a Victorian Government strategic planning policy framework for the metropolitan area of Greater Melbourne, intended to cover the period 2001-2030. During this period the population of the metropolitan area is expected to grow by a million people to over 5...
metropolitan development plan. It is therefore expected to maintain its status as a separate town until 2030 and beyond. City of Whittlesea planning policy for Whittlesea township envisages minimal growth over the next decade, so that the township will retain its rural character.
The town has a local volunteer fire brigade (CFA)
Country Fire Authority
Country Fire Authority, or CFA, is the name of the fire service that provides firefighting and other emergency services to all of the country areas and regional townships within the state of Victoria, Australia, as well as large portions of the outer suburban areas and growth corridors of Melbourne...
as well as limited hours Police station
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
. On the 22 January 2009 Health Minister Daniel Andrews opened an ambulance station in Whittlesea, this station operates between the hours of 10 am and 10 pm daily. This a 2006 state election promised made by the Bracks Labor Government
An emergency relief centre has been established at Whittlesea for the 2009 Victorian bushfires.
Local attractions include the Funfields Fun Park toboggan park, Torourrong Reservoir, Yan Yean Reservoir
Yan Yean Reservoir
Yan Yean Reservoir is the oldest water supply for the city of Melbourne, Australia. It is built on the Plenty River a tributary of the Yarra River, 30 km north of the city. A 9.5 metre embankment holds back 30,000 megalitres of water...
, Bear's Castle
Bears Castle
Bears Castle is a small castle in Yan Yean, Victoria, Australia.The castle was constructed from mud and clay in around 1846 by two men named Hannaford and Edwards, each of whom had recently arrived from Devon, England. It was built for the pastoralist John Bear...
and the old Court House (Now a tourist information center) http://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/files/1812_DEV%20BULL%2006.indd.pdf.
Education
- Whittlesea Secondary CollegeWhittlesea Secondary CollegeWhittlesea Secondary College is located in the township of Whittlesea, Victoria, Australia. It is set on the grounds of the former Whittlesea Technical High School, a link maintained today in the school's array of subjects including science, automotive repair, woodworking, metalworking, sewing and...
- Whittlesea Primary School
- St. Mary's Catholic Parish Primary School
Sport
Whittlesea Football ClubWhittlesea Football Club
Whittlesea Football Club is a local Australian rules football club in Whittlesea, Victoria, on the outer suburbs of Melbourne playing in the Northern Football League....
, an Australian Rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
team, competes in the Northern Football League.
Golfers play at the course of the Whittlesea Country Club on Humevale Road in neighbouring Humevale
Humevale, Victoria
Humevale is a rural locality in Victoria, Australia located between Whittlesea and Kinglake West, about north-north-east of Melbourne, within the City of Whittlesea. It is also referred to as Scrubby Creek after a nearby watercourse....
.