| Diamond Creek Melbourne, Victoria |
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Diamond Creek
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| Population: | 10,287 (2006) [1] | ||||||||||||
| Established: | 1841 | ||||||||||||
| Postcode: | 3089 | ||||||||||||
| Area: | 8.3 km² (3.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Shire of Nillumbik | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Yan Yean | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | McEwen | ||||||||||||
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Diamond Creek is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Nillumbik. At the 2006 Census, Diamond Creek had a population of 10,287.
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It is named after the Diamond Creek watercourse, a tributary of the Yarra River which flows through the area in a generally southward direction. The name relates to a story of a farmer whose prized bull (although some stories refer to it as female), named 'Diamond' because of the lozenge shape on its forehead, drowned in the creek.
Early white settlers in the Diamond Creek area are thought to have been timber getters and paling splitters. The township was established near the site of the Caledonia gold run, discovered in 1841. The Diamond Reef was found in 1863, and the township of Diamond Creek was subsequently developed, the Post Office opening on 7 February 1863.[2] In 1864 a Methodist church, and a school were established. The township was surveyed between 1886 and 1887. The name Nillumbik was given to the area around the town, which lasted until the turn of the century. After the gold rush, the area was used for orchards and small scale farming. The railway line from Eltham to Hurstbridge was opened in 1912, including a station at Diamond Creek.
In the postwar years, population increased dramatically in Diamond Creek and its neighbouring areas. The Diamond Valley Shire was created out of the northern part of the Shire of Heidelberg in 1964. Further population growth occurred throughout the 1970s.
The early twentieth century saw a decline in the orchard industry, as orchards in Melbourne's eastern townships such as Doncaster and Nunawading, fell into favour due to better marketing. Diamond Creek remained relatively untouched during the boom in recreational travel that followed the popularity of the motor car.
Gold was first found on a site at the top of Fraser Street in 1862 by two brothers.The owner of the property, Dr J B Phipps, floated a company and sank a shaft. Over the next 50 years the mine developed into a major local industry, employing up to 200 men at its peak, going down to 300 metres and drawing 5000 ounces of gold a year.
On Wednesday 20 January 1915 a spark escaped from the boiler and set fire to the entire above ground plant and buildings. Because of the depth of water which accumulated, it was found unprofitable to re-open the main shaft. A serious attempt was made in 1948 but again the depth of water was insurmountable.
The Diamond Creek shopping centre and railway station are situated on the banks of Diamond Creek, and the Hurstbridge railway line follows the course of Diamond Creek northwards from Eltham to its terminus at Hurstbridge.
Schools in Diamond Creek include Plenty Valley Montessori School, Sacred Heart Primary School, Diamond Creek Primary School, Diamond Creek East Primary School and Diamond Valley College.
The Diamond Creek Community Centre is jointly administered by the Shire of Nillumbik and the YMCA and provides a venue for basketball, gymnasium and group fitness classes, child care, community classes and public and private functions. The centre also houses Nillumbik's Maternal & Child Health Service. The Community Centre served as an evacuation point, providing emergency accommodation, first aid and government relief to local residents affected by the February 2009 Victorian bushfires.
A prominent building in Diamond Creek is St John's Anglican church situated at the top of Main Road.
Beside St John's Anglican church is AD Ryans' Restaurant & Bar, named after Patrick Ryan who ran the butcher shop in the earlier part of the 20th century. It was later turned into flats and turned into a restaurant by Andrew Zablocki and David and Julie Thompson in 1995. It is a prominent local building, restored to glory for all to enjoy.
On the other side of St John's is the beautiful Ashton Manor, previously known as The Abbey. It is a reception centre and very popular for weddings and other celebrations.
Diamond Creek has a football team playing in the Northern Football League.[3]
The Rotary Club of Diamond Creek organise the annual Diamond Creek Town Fair, a community event held in September. It commences with a parade which features local schools, scouting groups, child care centres and community groups. The fair offers food, crafts and fairground attractions, rides, wood chopping, local community stallholders, and entertainment. It traditionally concludes with an evening torchlight parade by the local CFA units and a fireworks display.
Diamond Creek is home to a Donkey Shelter which provides accommodation and care for neglected donkeys from all around the state of Victoria.
Diamond Creek Little Athletics Club is one of the eight clubs competing weekly at the Diamond Valley Little Athletics Centre at Willinda Park, Greensborough.
Diamond Creek also has a busy CFA (Country Fire Authority) volunteer fire brigade, which attends to over 230 emergency calls annually. The brigade was established in 1942. In 2005, a new emergency services centre was built on the Main Hurstbridge Rd, which includes CFA, Metropolitan Ambulance Service and Police facilities. The Diamond Creek CFA brigade has approximately 60 members, one pumper, two tankers and a Nissan Patrol, as well as an extensive collection of modern, advanced firefighting equipment and training facilities.
Diamond Creek is serviced by the Diamond Valley Division of St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria) St John Ambulance provides emergency pre-hospital care to local events in Diamond Creek, such as the Town Fair, Pet Expo, Fun Runs and many other local events. The Diamond Valley division is based in Greensborough.
Diamond Creek is serviced by the Yarra Plenty Regional Library Mobile Library every Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The Library Bus uses the Community Centre car park.
Diamond Creek has many large retailers, including a Coles and a Mitre 10 Home & Trade.
Diamond Creek's shopping centres have developed over the years. A Tuckerbag was built as the first shopping centre (later Foodworks); that supermarket later became a Ritchies Stores Supa IGA. A chicken-and-chips shop called Mr Rooster has traded for some time. As of 2011[update] a range of shops trades in the Diamond Creek Plaza: Tattersalls (within the newsagent), Bakers Delight, IGA Liquor, Chemmart (now Priceline pharmacy). There are several pizza shops including Celebrity Pizza, La Sera and further up Main Road back towards AD Ryans Restaurant, Da Vinci Pizza.
In 2001 a large modern shopping centre called the Diamond Creek Shopping Station was built across the road featuring a Bi-Lo (subsequently Coles), Harvest Café (now Platters), a deli, an Amcal and a range of other specialty stores
The Diamond Creek Shopping Station has been extended three times, with a BWS and more stores to come. A new bakery has opened, a fitness centre (Fitness Link - seems closed as at 2011) and a brand new wheelchair-accessible Bendigo Bank has opened, relocating from previous premises across the road on the IGA side.
The first of the extensions expanded to the south of the centre, featuring a large ANZ bank, a Flight Centre and a health and home gift shop.
The second extension doubled the size of Coles and added a Liquorland.
In 2001 a McDonalds was added beside Diamond Creek Station. This 24-hours McDonalds features a McCafé.
The Chute Street end of Main Street hosts Creeks Cafe, Nillumbik Cellars (incorporating The Vines Cafe), Chute Street Fish & Chips, Mr Chips, Madeleine's Bakery, Rainflorist, a tattoo parlour (opened late in 2009), a small coffee shop and several others.
Kimberley Starr - award-winning Australian novelist.
Greg O'Connor - member of Australian rock band, Boom Crash Opera
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