Do you know why they call this place Kangaroo Ground? The name springs from a time when kangaroo grass grew extraordinarily rich here. Let’s explore Kangaroo Ground together. It is a town northeast of Melbourne.
Kangaroo Ground’s story starts with its fertile soil. It became an agricultural hub. The area was on the route to the Woods Point gold diggings. Robert Hoddle mentioned the place in his diary in 1838. He noted its abundance of kangaroos.
The Kangaroo Ground Post Office has been around since 1854. Garden Hill is a high point in the district. Today it is the location of the Kangaroo Ground War Memorial Park. Back in 1874, observers could see all the way to the Kew Asylum. They could even spot ships on Hobsons Bay. Mr. Donaldson was one of the first to settle here. He bought land when this area was still part of New South Wales.
The area was once home to over 200 kangaroos. Kangaroo Ground is one of the oldest areas in the Shire of Nillumbik. It once rivaled Eltham as the main center of the former Shire of Eltham. Look around at the sugar gum tree. It is a rare sight. These trees were commonly planted in the early 1900s. Notice the manna gum. It is another local landmark.
John Donaldson visited Windsor Great Park in 1878. He brought acorns back to Kangaroo Ground. These acorns grew into an oak tree. By 2004, it was already 110 years old.
Take note of the Presbyterian Church. It was built in 1878. The architect C. W. Maplestone designed it. A weatherboard vestry was added in 1892. The church holds historical and architectural importance.
The Pigeon Bank residence began in the 1860s. Francis Rogerson once lived here. Later, politician Ewan Cameron called it home from 1874 to 1915. He farmed about 40 hectares here.
Around the 1860s and 1870s, settlers planted hawthorn hedges. These hedges reflected European farming styles. Some of these hedges still stand today.
The Wippell Farm complex shows what farming was like in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Rare plants still grow on the site. Garden Hill weatherboard house has a shearing shed nearby. Pioneer Andrew Harkness once lived there. Industrialist Sir Henry Gepp also has a connection to this place. The house offers views stretching to Kinglake.
The Evelyn Observer newspaper once had its building on a local hill. Later, the Eltham Shire Council used it for their offices. Sadly, a fire destroyed it in 1934.
The Kangaroo Ground Fire Brigade started in 1892. They have battled many fires. The brigade built a new station in 1980. The Kangaroo Ground Pony Club was formed in 1964.
A school has been part of Kangaroo Ground since 1851. Andrew Ross was the first schoolmaster. The schoolhouse was established around 1878. The residence includes a room that once served as a State Savings bank agency. The Eltham District Historical Society also used the residence. Now, it is home to the Andrew Ross Museum.
Kangaroo Ground Pre-School shares a site with the primary school. The General Store and Post Office has been a community hub since about 1900. The Shire of Eltham council even held meetings here. The post office is also a winery. Winemaker Ken King made it happen.
The Kangaroo Ground Emergency Operations Centre was built in 1988. Weller’s Hotel dates back to 1872. It has been a hotel, store, and Cobb & Co staging post. It is now known as Fondata 1872.
The Kangaroo Ground cemetery saw its first burial in 1851. Feminist Irene Frances Taylor is buried here too.
Kangaroo Ground hosts the Australian headquarters for Wycliffe Australia. Volunteers translate the Bible here. Mudbrick architect Alistair Knox designed the center. Volunteers helped build it.
Even a mobile library visits Kangaroo Ground regularly. What a rich history. It is a blend of agriculture, community, and resilience.