Doesn’t the name Melton evoke images of green pastures and huntsmen. Welcome to the City of Melton. It is a vibrant township, located 40 km west of Melbourne CBD.
Melton’s story begins long before European settlement. The Woiwurung and Woddowerong tribes inhabited this land. They disappeared shortly after the opening of the railway station in 1884.
But Melton’s modern name has a distinctly British origin. A huntsman suggested naming it after Melton Mowbray. That is the famous hunting ground in Leicestershire, England. This reflects Thomas Pyke importing foxes into Australia in 1845. His Pykes Hunt brought a slice of the old country to the new land.
The Pyke brothers were the first to settle close to Melton. They arrived between 1838 and 1844. They grazed their sheep from the Kororoit to Djerriwarrh Creek. William Pyke was the first to settle in Melton in 1838. He took up land on the Pennyroyal Creek. He was a registered surgeon. His brother Thomas was known as Gentleman Pyke.
Simon Staughton was the second settler in the district. He took up land at Exford in 1841. By his death in 1863, his estate was around 100,000 acres.
Melton Township grew from early landmarks. These included an eating house on Pyke’s station. The Temperance Hotel was also important. So was the bakery east of Toolern Creek. The Lord Raglan Hotel to the west also played a role. A visitor in the 1850s saw Melton as the nucleus of a future important township. He noted its treed setting and rich soil.
Robert Russel surveyed a grid layout for the original township in 1852. A small township sprung up. Prolonged drought in the 1860s ruined many settlers. Seasonal flooding forced the town westward to higher ground.
Melton’s growth accelerated during Victoria’s gold rush in 1851. It became a postal village in 1856. This was due to its location at an easy crossing of Pennyroyal Creek. This was on the way to the goldfields. By 1862, Melton was the centre of a thriving pastoral district. It had 73,000 acres. Melton had a population of 1000, boasting a church, schools, hotels and 1200 permanent homes.
In 1974, Melton was declared a satellite suburb. Melton is separated from Melbourne’s urban area by a green wedge. The green wedges are Western Plains North and Western Plains South.
Today, Melton is a thriving community. It is known for its beautiful parks and gardens. These include the Melton Botanic Garden. Melton offers walking trails, cycling paths and sporting facilities.
The Djerriwarrh Festival is a highlight. It is held in November and features a street parade on High Street. Melton is also home to Tabcorp Park. This is a harness racing complex.
Melton has several historic buildings. These include Raglan Cottage. Melton Mechanics Institute is another. The courthouse dates from 1892.
Melton is part of the Sunbury wine region. There are many wineries a short drive away. These include Galli Estate and Witchmount Estate.
From its humble beginnings to its present-day vibrancy, Melton offers a unique blend of history and progress. It is a community steeped in the spirit of the Australian outback. It has a future firmly set on growth and prosperity.