Westgarthtown, Victoria

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Westgarthtown is an historic village located within the Melbourne suburb of Thomastown, in Victoria, Australia.

[edit] History

The town was originally known as Germantown, and was established around 1850. The name was changed to Westgarthtown in honour of Thomas Westgarth, who sponsored German immigration. The name Germantown was still in use up until the First World War, when it became officially regarded as part of Thomastown.

[edit] Modern day

In the 1970s, urban sprawl caught up with the village, and though it is now surrounded by suburban housing, the village is protected by the Victorian Heritage Act. In 1992, the Lutheran Church and Cemetery (both dating back to 1856) and two farmhouses were added to the Victorian Heritage Register. Two more farmhouses were added in 1993 and 1996.