Gisborne, Victoria

Gisborne (/ˈɡɪzbərn/)[3] is a town in the Macedon Ranges, located about 54 kilometres (34 mi) north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is the largest town in the Macedon Ranges Shire, with a population of 13,963 as of June 2018.[1]

For other uses of "Gisborne", see Gisborne (disambiguation).

Gisborne
Victoria
View down the main street from the south
Gisborne
Coordinates37°29′24″S 144°35′20″E
Population13,963 (2018)[1]
 • Density66.18/km2 (171.4/sq mi)
Established1851
Postcode(s)3437
Elevation443 m (1,453 ft)
Area211 km2 (81.5 sq mi)[2]
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Macedon Ranges
State electorate(s)Macedon
Federal Division(s)McEwen
Localities around Gisborne:
Macedon New Gisborne Riddells Creek
Bullengarook Gisborne Sunbury
Bullengarook Toolern Vale Gisborne South

Gisborne is known for its country homesteads, tree-lined streets, restaurants and cafes. The town has become a popular 'tree change' destination for Melbourne residents seeking large leafy blocks, a quiet lifestyle and "lovely little community"[4] within easy commuting distance from the city. As such, the town has grown substantially over the past 5–10 years, with an increase of almost 2,600[1] residents since 2011, although planning controls have been implemented to protect the character and "outstanding natural beauty" of the region.[5]

History
Gisborne Presbyterian Church

The original inhabitants of Gisborne were the Dja Dja Wurrung and Wurundjeri Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people have lived in the Macedon Ranges area for at least 26,000 years. The Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrrung and Taungurung communities are still active.

The Gisborne town site was first settled by Europeans on 24 March 1837 by George Hamilton (Australian police officer). The area further south of Gisborne had been settled earlier by John Aitken, who squatted on the land having shipped his merino sheep from Tasmania.[6]

In 1840, Henry Fyshe Gisborne, Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Port Phillip District, set up an outpost for his Border Police troopers to assist colonialists with the suppression of Aboriginal resistance.

A hotel named the Bush Inn was built near the barracks in the same year. Gisborne Post Office opened on 22 March 1850, and the Bush Inn was renamed the Gisborne Hotel ten days later, in honour of Henry Fyshe Gisborne.[7]

Today

Gisborne is the largest township in the Macedon Ranges and the closest to Melbourne's city centre, which can be accessed easily via a 45-minute drive along the Calder Freeway or a 50 minute train ride on the Bendigo Line. The population in June 2018 was 13,963[1] having grown on average 2.93% year-on-year for the five years preceding 2018.[1]

The town centre has many cafes and wine bars, as well a theatre,[8] restaurants and galleries, monthly farmers' market,[9] an organic butcher and three supermarkets stocking local produce, as well as organic, vegan and gluten-free foods.[10] Gisborne has a full-time police station in conjunction with the CFA station and medical-ambulance facilities.

The most popular place to visit in Gisborne is Swinburne Avenue during sun set. The long established community members of the western residential pocket of Gisborne gather along the street to watch the sun go down and celebrate to beauty of the region. Unofficially this is called the Celebration of Skyline, a play on the adjacent street name Skyline Drive.

Sporting facilities cater for AFL football, cricket, soccer, tennis, netball gymnastics, and lawn bowls as well as a heated indoor pool. The popular golf course is located within the township and regularly features as one of the top 100 public access courses in Australia. The Gisborne Soccer Club captain is ex-Socceroo and Melbourne Victory captain Carl Valeri.

A number of media reports[11][12] have made reference to the influx of young professionals, artists and 'hipsters' to the region,[13] drawn by the region's natural beauty, proximity to Melbourne and access to city-style cafes and restaurants.[14][15] The large numbers of new residents is making the local population growth rate among the fastest in regional Victoria.[16] Locals, worried about the environmental and cultural impacts of this growing popularity, successfully campaigned for new planning controls to protect the character of the region.[5]

Population

In the 2016 census, Gisborne had a population count of 9,822 people.[17] At the time, 82.1% of the town's residents were born in Australia, with the most common foreign countries of birth being England (4.0%) and New Zealand (1.3%). The most common responses for religion were "No Religion" (35.3%), Catholic (28.3%) and Anglican (13.0%).[17]

Public Transport

The town's railway station is on the Bendigo Line, serviced by V/Line. Trains take twenty minutes between Gisborne and Sunbury, where customers can connect directly to Metro services, otherwise V/Line can take customers directly into Melbourne's CBC terminating at Southern Cross Station. When the railway line was being built, it was too difficult to get the trains down into Gisborne's township due to terrain, instead the Gisborne railway station was built just outside of the township, forming a new suburb of New Gisborne.

The town has its own dedicated bus service called GisBus, which runs looped shuttle services around the township connecting townsfolk to the railway station, it's part of PTV.

Media

The town receives all of Melbourne's metropolitan digital television channels, including Channel 31. The town is largely serviced by major publication newspapers such as The Age, but Gisborne also receives free weekly regional news from the Midland Express as well as a monthly Gisborne dedicated publication the GREAT Gisborne Gazette.

Education

The town has two public primary schools and one public secondary school, Gisborne Secondary College. The Gisborne Montessori School and Candlebark (alternative school) provide additional options.

Sister cities
  • View from Mount Gisborne Road in Gisborne South
  • Gisborne Fountain - Hamilton St and Aitken St Gisborne
  • Gisborne Court House
  • Gisborne Telegraph Office

See also

References
  1. "People: Population: ERP: ERP by SA2 and above (ASGS 2016), 2001 onwards". ABS.Stat. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  2. "1270.0.55.001 - Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 - Main Structure and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas, July 2016: Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) ASGS Edition 2016 in .csv Format". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  3. Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
  4. "From Inter Milan to Melbourne, Carl Valeri happy with new life at Victory". www.heraldsun.com.au. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  5. Cowie, Tom (13 December 2017). "New Rules to protect Macedon Ranges". The Age. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  6. Bride, T. F., John Aitken, Letters from Victorian Pioneers to his Excellency Charles Joseph La Trobe, Esq., Public Library of Victoria, 1895, p.41.
  7. Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
  8. "Barringo Theatre". Barringo.
  9. "Gisborne Olde Time Market - Food, Arts and Craft". www.gisborneoldetimemarket.org.au. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  10. "Williamson's Foodworks - Gisborne & Sunbury". www.williamsonsfoodworks.com.au. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  11. "The Design Files: Artist Elizabeth Barnett creates a farmhouse retreat in the Macedon Ranges". Domain. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  12. Zhou, Christina (15 January 2017). "Hipster haven: Why crowds flock to Kyneton | Photos". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  13. "Lee Lin Chin scolds hipsters to save old hospital". ABC News. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  14. "When Hippy Towns Get Hip". www.realestate.com.au. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  15. RegionalLivingVic, Kevin & Bruce from Mirkwood Forest - Ready When You Are, retrieved 20 December 2018
  16. Lenaghan, Peter (15 February 2018). "Election battle looms as residents worry over Macedon Ranges growth policy". ABC News. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  17. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Gisborne". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  18. Sister Cities, Gisborne District Council, archived from the original on 14 October 2008, retrieved 25 November 2008
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