Wollert, Victoria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wollert
Victoria
Population: 348[1]
Postcode: 3750
Elevation: 100 m (328 ft)
Location:
LGA: City of Whittlesea
State District: Yan Yean
Federal Division: McEwen
Localities around Wollert:
Craigieburn Beveridge Beveridge
Craigieburn Wollert Mernda
Epping Epping Mernda

Wollert is a semi-rural locality 6 kilometres (4 mi) north of Epping, an outer northern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Wollert and the surrounding area had a population of 348.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

"Wollert" is an Aboriginal word meaning “where possums abound”, and the suburb takes its name from the land parish in which part of it is situated. From 1836 until the early 1850s, sheep raising was the main activity. In 1853, much of the land was subdivided into smaller farm lots, and necessary access roads laid out. During this period Wollert became a dairying community, with significant dairy production continuing for the Melbourne market until the 1960s. In more recent years, dairying has largeely ceased and smaller-scale grazing and Wollert's quarrying and brickmaking facilities represent the suburb's main industries.

The first school, established by the Church of England, commenced in 1852. A bluestone Government school replaced it in 1877 and continued until 1994. A Methodist Church was built in 1878 to replace an earlier one built in 1859. This church continues as the Wollert Uniting Church. The Wollert General Store is still in operation, but the adjacent Dance Palais is no longer is use.

During the late 1940s, several large Wollert properties were purchased by the Soldier Settlement Commission. They were then subdivided and allocated to eligible ex-servicemen[2]

[edit] Landmarks

  • Australia's largest brickmaker, Brickworks Ltd., operates a plant in Wollert.
  • "The Christian Church in Melbourne" has its meeting hall at Wollert, on the site of the former Government school.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). Wollert (State Suburb). 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
  2. ^ City of Whittlesea Heritage Study, 1990

[edit] External links