Garfield, Victoria

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Garfield
Victoria

Main street
Population: 1,401 (2006) [1]
Postcode: 3814
Location:
LGA: Shire of Cardinia
State District: Bass
Federal Division: McMillan
Localities around Garfield:
Tynong North Garfield North Garfield North
Tynong Garfield Bunyip
Cora Lynn Iona Iona

Garfield is a town in West Gippsland, Victoria, Australia situated in the Shire of Cardinia. At the 2006 census, Garfield had a population of 1,401[1]. The area was originally called Cannibal Creek, but was renamed to Garfield in memory of the US President, James Garfield.

Garfield has a small primary school with approximately 100 students. There is a church at the top end of the schoolgrounds. Local businesses include a milk bar, ANZ bank, pub, an antique shop, and a bed and breakfast.

Contents

[edit] Garfield Filmed

In the late '80s the appearance of the town was transformed for the cameras to look like the 1960s in a television mini series on aboriginal boxer, Lionel Rose, who was raised in the region in Jackson's Track, near Drouin. Some shop fronts were restored and the main street of the town was filled with old cars to recreate the era.

[edit] Garfield's Pride

Since the beginnings as a railway and timber town, and later a dairy and potato farming and orchard area, Garfield has always been a close community, with almost everybody knowing everyone else, and in some cases four generations of family staying in the (mainly), farming area. Recent growth has seen a doubling of residential building and the (2006), upgrading of the railway line from Melbourne to Traralgon with increases in frequency of services by upgraded modern trains, is an attraction to new residents. A new housing development currently nearing completion this year (2007), is for over-55's in a secure environment. Previously derelict shops on the main street are now reoccupied.

Garfield's football team "The Stars", have been constant performers in local football for many generations. Garfield has an attractive undulating golf course just out of town. A modern community swimming pool operates in the summer months within the recreation precinct where there is also the lawn-bowling club, tennis and netball courts, skateboarding site, along with the newly regenerated football oval alongside of which is the community hall and children's playground which many local groups utilise for a variety of functions. Garfield's picture theatre, although long closed, is being restored for future multi-entertainment uses, stands as a landmark in the quiet rural hillside town. A six-day-a-week operating post office, a bakery outlet, a pizza shop, milkbar & take-away shop, a combined-churches charity shop, an equestrian outfitter's, a craft and wooden toy shop, a country wares and antiques shop, a "mystic" shop, an automotive garage, a chemist, butcher, real estate office and newsagent and full-time ANZ Bank branch, a unisex hairdresser, plus the "Iona Hotel" make up the occupants on the main street which runs parallel with the railway that dissects the town with the station at its centre. A local architectural engineering firm has been operational since the 1950's. The farming land nearby has an influx of horse-owners in recent years and there is now an emu farm nearby open for emu-derived cosmetics sales and tourist visits.

[edit] Gallery

[edit] See also

Garfield railway station Image:Garfield Community Hall & Sports club rooms.JPG Image:Garfield goods train passing through on Gippsland line.JPG Image:Garfield Main St Eastwards from reserve by rail line.JPG Image:Garfield Picture Theatre in Main Street.JPG‎;

Coordinates: 38°04′S, 145°41′E

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). Garfield (State Suburb). 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved on 2007-09-15.