Ever wondered about Launching Place’s unusual name? It’s a story woven into the very fabric of this quiet Victorian town. Launching Place sits nestled 55km east of Melbourne near where the Little Yarra River meets the mighty Yarra. It wasn’t always a tranquil village though.
Imagine the 1850s. Gold fever gripped Gippsland. A track was hastily carved from Melbourne leading right to Launching Place. Supplies surged along this track. They travelled as far as Launching Place before continuing their journey. Flat-bottomed boats carried them further upstream. These boats were launched right here hence the name. Goods also travelled via pack horses a more common mode of transport than the boats.
In the 1860s Launching Place was also known as Ewart’s after David Ewart’s Home Hotel. This hotel a large slab and bark building was the heart of the small settlement. Nearby Don Valley and Yarra Junction however grew faster than Launching Place. Don Valley even boasted a school from 1884 to 1894 before it closed. Yarra Junction then opened its own school. Launching Place had to wait until 1926 for its own school.
The arrival of the railway in 1901 changed Launching Place forever. Tourists flocked to the area. They were drawn by the Yarra River’s beauty and the promise of fishing. The railway station and line remained until 1965. A boarding house supplemented the Home Hotel offering tourists comfortable accommodation. Sawmills dairying and fruit growing thrived forming the local economy.
Today Launching Place is a blend of history and modern life. The original village centre remains near the Home Hotel. The railway line is now the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail a popular spot for walkers and cyclists. Residential areas expanded after the 1970s. The school now has around 267 students. Two reserves provide green spaces. Corner stores serve the community. Launching Place a simple name with a rich and evocative history.