- Woodend, Victoria
Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Woodend
state = vic
caption = Woodend's Main Street
lga = Shire of Macedon Ranges
postcode = 3442
pop = 5374 (2006)Census 2006 AUS | id = SSC27023 | name = Woodend (State Suburb) | accessdate = 2007-10-01 | quick = on]
est =
elevation= 580
maxtemp = 15.3
mintemp = 7.1
rainfall = 843.9
stategov = Macedon
fedgov = McEwen
dist1 = 70
dir1 = NW
location1=Melbourne
dist2 = 85
dir2 = SE
location2= Bendigo
dist3 = 78
dir3 = NE
location3= Ballarat
near-nw = Spring Hill and Lauriston
near-n = Woodend North
near-ne = Newham
near-w = Trentham
near-e = Riddells Creek
near-sw = Darley and Bullengarook
near-s = Macedon
near-se = Mount MacedonWoodend is a small town in Victoria,
Australia . The town is in theShire of Macedon Ranges Local government area. It is bypassed to the east and north by theCalder Freeway (M79) and is located about halfway betweenMelbourne and Bendigo. At the 2006 census, Woodend had a population of 5374.Woodend was first surveyed in
1836 by MajorThomas Mitchell , who opened it up for settlement. When gold was discovered in the area (towards Bendigo andBallarat ), Woodend became the main thoroughfare through the Black Forest, and accommodated many gold-diggers and their families. Woodend Post Office opened on 20 July 1854, closed in December of that year, then reopened in the township on 1 November 1856. {Citation
last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country= | accessdate = 2008-04-11 ]The tourist boom caused the settlement to grow and develop. Later the place became a centre for sheep-farming, and in
1862 , a railway connection to Bendigo was built though Woodend, as a connection to the regional centre.Woodend is close to such attractions as Mt Macedon, Hanging Rock, located at nearby Newham, and numerous waterfalls. The area supports a large horse-racing community. Woodend's location in the foothills of the
Great Dividing Range means that, unlike most of Australia, snowfalls are not uncommon.The Woodend Winter Arts Festival, held on the Queens Birthday Weekend in June, is an event where artisans from around Australia gather to perform. The annual
Melbourne Autumn Day (MAD) ride is held in Woodend by the Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club.Like many towns in the area, Woodend has many historical buildings. Entering Woodend from Melbourne, most of the shops and eateries are located either side of the main High Street, with the clocktower in the centre. Built in 1897, The Old Stationmasters House sits on the approach to the High street. At the other end of the shops lies File Mile Creek. A historic bluestone bridge crosses the creek and can be viewed from adjacent parkland. On the left lies Islay House and Beth Shan, both circa 1860. Islay House is a two story brick "Georgian" building that first traded as a licensed premises serving alcohol to the gold diggers. Beth Shan is a single story weatherboard cottage in “Colonial Vernacular” style. The cottage, built as a residence and shop selling supplies to the diggers, acquired the name Beth Shan in 1920 when the Irish nurse, Nurse Hicks leased the premises and opened it as a maternity hospital to the local community.
Businesses within the Woodend CBD include Coles,
Mitre 10 ,Sassy Woodend ,Pets Haven Animal Shelter ,Maloa House a popular privately owned restaurant, and various small businesses from homewares to fine fooderies.There are several mountain bike tracks near Woodend, in the Wombat State Forest and also on Mount Macedon, The Local [http://www.wombatmtb.com/ Wombat MTB Club] Maintains the Tracks in the area, they also arrange events and bike tours check out [http://www.wombatmtb.com/ www.wombatmtb.com] for more information on Mountain Bike Riding In And Around Woodend.
Much of the 2004 mini-series adaptation of
Stephen King 's novelSalem's Lot was filmed in the town.See also
*
Woodend railway station, Victoria
*Woodend/Hesket Football Club References
External links
* [http://www.woodendwinterartsfestival.org.au Woodend Winter Arts Festival]
* [http://www.woodend.org.au/ Woodend Site]
* [http://www.wombatmtb.com/ Wombat MTB Club]
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