“Sassafras Gully” it was once called. This name paints a picture of the damp and hilly terrain. Sassafras trees thrived here along Sassafras Creek. Now we know it as Sassafras. It is a charming locality within Greater Melbourne.
Sassafras sits 43 km east of Melbourne’s Central Business District. It is nestled in the City of Knox and Shire of Yarra Ranges. In 2021, Sassafras recorded a population of 970 residents.
The Sassafras village perches at about 500 meters altitude. It is set on the ridgeline of the Dandenong Ranges. This places it south of Mount Dandenong’s peak.
In 1893, the land opened for small-scale farming. Soon after, tourists began flocking to the Dandenong Ranges. A small township formed. It included a post office in 1894, a store, a school also in 1894 and a mechanics’ hall.
Weekenders and guest houses sprang up. By 1918, thirteen guest houses operated in Sassafras. This made Sassafras a leading resort in the Dandenong Ranges. Around that time, two churches and more shops appeared.
The Sassafras Primary School began in 1894. Classes initially met in a bark slab hut. In 1895, it moved to the Sassafras Mechanics Institute hall. The school found its present site in 1915.
Tourists arrived by railway or improved roads. Road improvements in the 1920s led some tourists elsewhere. Still, affluent Melburnians built homes in Sassafras. Some even organized the construction of a Presbyterian church in 1937. It is now the Kennon Memorial Uniting Church. A bowling green also joined the town.
Families with ordinary incomes settled in Sassafras making it more residential. Infant welfare and preschool play facilities opened in the 1950s.
Sassafras Creek is a tributary of the Woori Yallock Creek and Yarra River. The township sits on a ridge west of the gully. On the ridge’s other side, streams flow to the Dandenong Creek.
Sassafras continues to attract day-trippers. One of its churches now houses a gallery. Nicholas Gardens and Nicholas Research Laboratories reside on land once owned by Alfred Nicholas. He was the Aspro manufacturer and philanthropist. The gardens were laid out from 1929 to 1937.
His residence, Burnham Beeches, exemplifies Art Deco Streamline Moderne style. Harry Norris, designed this building in 1933. Burnham Beeches served as a hotel and function center. Chef Shannon Bennett and developer Adam Garrison purchased it. They transformed Burnham Beeches into a food and accommodation destination. The Piggery cafe and Burnham bakery opened in 2014.
Today, Sassafras offers boutique stores. You will find Devonshire tea outlets, cafes, toy shops, antique shops and nurseries.
Sassafras maintains its charm. It is a blend of history, natural beauty and delightful experiences. Take in the fresh air. Explore the shops. Savor the treats. Remember the name: Sassafras.