Warburton, Victoria

Warburton
Victoria

Main Street, Warburton
Warburton
Coordinates 37°45′18″S 145°41′49″E / 37.755°S 145.697°ECoordinates: 37°45′18″S 145°41′49″E / 37.755°S 145.697°E
Population 2,171 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 3799
Elevation 159 m (522 ft)
Location 72 km (45 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s) Shire of Yarra Ranges
State electorate(s) Eildon
Federal Division(s) McEwen
Localities around Warburton:
Healesville Fernshaw East Warburton
Millgrove Warburton East Warburton & Big Pats Creek
Wesburn Three Bridges & Powelltown East Warburton

Warburton is a town in Victoria, Australia, 72 kilometres east of Melbourne's central business district. Its local government area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges. At the 2011 census, Warburton had a population of 2,171.

The name "Warburton" has been shared between two townships over the years. The mining town of "Yankee Jim's Creek" was located on the gold-bearing slopes of Mount Little Joe, and was renamed "Warburton" after the mining warden of the district, Charles Warburton Carr. Gold depletion caused a declining population in the 1880s, so the town was renamed "Old Warburton" and the town of "Upper Warburton" on the banks on the Yarra River was renamed "Warburton".

The Post Office opened around 1884. Two earlier offices named Warburton were renamed as Launching Place and Hoddle's Creek.[2]

Warburton was connected to Lilydale by a Victorian Railways branch line, which was closed in 1965.[3] The railway path is now used for the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail, a rail trail used by pedestrians, cyclists, and horse-riders.[4]

East of Warburton is a large water catchment area called Upper Yarra Dam, which is designed to supply Melbourne with water sourced from the Thomson catchment area.

Together with its neighbouring township Millgrove, Warburton has an Australian Rules football team (Warburton Millgrove) competing in the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League.[5]

Golfers play at the course of the Warburton Golf Club on Dammans Road.[6]

Tourism

Warburton area is a tourist destination, with picturesque mountain views of the surrounding hills. The Yarra River meanders through the township and is lined with walking tracks and beautiful picnic spots. The township is 20 minutes' drive from Mount Donna Buang, which is occasionally snow-covered in the winter. Restaurants and cafés, river walks, snow-play, fishing and wineries make up the local attractions. Throughout Victoria, Warburton is often cited as one of the state's 'natural wonders', due to its peaceful and serene surroundings. Organisations including Travel Victoria advocate the beauty of the township and its many natural amenities, such as swimming in the local Yarra River. Trout fishing is popular in the Yarra River. Popular techniques include fly and lure fishing. Brown trout are most commonly caught ranging from 20 to 40 centimetres in length.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Warburton (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  2. Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
  3. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, March, 1966 pp49-54
  4. Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail, Tourism Victoria, retrieved 2011-07-26
  5. Full Points Footy, Warburton_Millgrove, retrieved 2008-07-25
  6. Warburton Golf Club, Warburton Golf Club, retrieved 2009-09-10

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Warburton, Victoria.