Fernbank, Victoria

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Fernbank
state = vic


caption =
lga = East Gippsland Shire Council
postcode = 3864
coordinates = coord|37|52|S|147|20|E|type:city_region:AU|display=inline,title
est =
pop = 630 (2001)cite web|title=ABS 2001 Census|date=March 9, 2006|url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ProductSelect?newproducttype=QuickStats&btnSelectProduct=View+QuickStats+%3E&collection=Census&period=2001&areacode=POA3864&geography=Postal+Area+of+Enumeration&method=&productlabel=&producttype=&topic=&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&breadcrumb=LP&topholder=0&leftholder=0&currentaction=201&action=401&textversion=false|accessdate=2008-10-05]
elevation= 122
maxtemp = 19.6
mintemp = 7.4
rainfall = 510.9
stategov = Gippsland East
fedgov = Gippsland
dist1 = 310
dir1 = E
location1= Melbourne
dist2 = 40
dir2 = NE
location2= Sale
dist3 = 30
dir3 = W
location3= Bairnsdale

Fernbank is a small country town on the Perry River in Victoria, Australia, approximately 310 km east of Melbourne. As of the 2001 census, the small town of Fernbank had a population of 630. With the main highway, Princes Highway close by, the small community not only services itself, but travellers along the main highway that stop for a break. Fernbank's main industries include dairy, sheep, cattle and various vegetable crops. Even though the town is small, it has varied shops, restuarants, parks and playgrounds for tourists and locals.

The origin of the town's name, Fernbank, is somewhat of a mystery. The main urban legend is that the town was just named after the plants that grow by the banks of the Perry River, the fern, giving rise to the name, Fern-bank.

Approximately 2.5km south-west of Fernbank is the beautiful Fernbank Landscape & Flora Reserve, just off of the main highway, Princes Highway. There are some beautiful walking tracks and picnic spots for everyone to take full advantage of.

Transport

Fernbank used to be serviced by the Bairnsdale railway line, but the station closed to passengers in 1981 and then fully closed in 1996. There are still a disused crossing loop and goods platform at the station.

History

References