Perhaps you’ve wondered about the origins of this town’s name. I am talking about Macedon in Victoria. It shares its name with the ancient Kingdom of Macedon.
Macedon’s name comes from the Greek adjective makednos. It means tall. Some believe it meant highlanders or tall ones. Others suggest it meant high grown men.
The Kulin nation are the original inhabitants of Macedon. The Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrrung and Taungurung people have lived here for at least 26000 years. Their communities are still active today.
Europeans arrived in 1837. Early interactions were strained. There were reports of stock thefts. But there were no massacres reported.
In the 1850s gold was discovered. Middle Gully, as Macedon was then known, became a hub. It provided services for gold miners. Inns, beer houses, and blacksmiths thrived.
The gold rush from 1850 to 1870 made the area flourish. The railway between Melbourne and Bendigo further boosted growth. It brought new residents.
The town was affected by the land boom of the late 1880s. Property prices increased rapidly. Some prices quadrupled in a short time.
By 1893, the settlement was named Macedon. It grew through a co-operative model. Local industry emerged. A butter factory was built. It used advanced butter-making machinery. A six-horse water-wheel powered the plant.
Melbourne’s wealthy elite began settling here in the late 19th century. They acquired large land blocks.
In 1903, Macedon was a post, money-order, savings bank and telegraph town. It had three hotels. There were two general stores and a state school. Several churches stood here. A Jubilee hall and library were also present. Eucalyptus oil works operated nearby.
Macedon is home to a heritage-listed Avenue of Honour. This war memorial features 224 oak trees. They line both sides of the avenue for about one kilometre. Planted in 1918, each tree represents a local enlisted soldier.
The opening ceremony was held on 10 August 1918. The State Premier attended. He said the Avenue would remind future generations. It would honour those who served. The community committed to caring for the avenue.
The Avenue of Honour’s autumn colours attract many visitors. The local council introduces traffic and parking restrictions.
Macedon suffered extensive damage in the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires. Two people died. Sixty-four houses were destroyed.
Most shops burned down. The Catholic and Anglican churches were lost. The Jubilee hall and fire station were also destroyed. At least 160 residents survived. They sheltered in the Macedon Family Club Hotel.
Australian Defence Force members assisted the town. They helped dispose of dead livestock. A public park now serves as a memorial. It remembers the losses of Ash Wednesday. It is located near Macedon’s railway station.
Macedon’s popularity has increased recently. Its proximity to Melbourne attracts people. Boutique accommodation and the food and wine industries also draw visitors. The arts scene is thriving. The local population is growing rapidly.
Locals campaigned for planning controls. They wanted to protect the region’s character.
Several vineyards are open to the public near Macedon. One was once owned by Olivia Newton-John.
Wild Action Zoo is a private zoological facility in Macedon. It provides animal education. The zoo’s owner starred in a TV series. It was called Chris Humfrey’s Animal Instinct.
The town’s initial economy was based on timber. It also serviced the gold rush. Later, eucalyptus distilleries opened. They met the demand for medicinal eucalyptus oil.
The railway line was constructed in 1861. Middle Gully’s name changed to Macedon soon after. The railway line includes the Middle Gully rail bridge. It is one of the earliest metal plate girder road bridges in Victoria.
Macedon Primary School was established in 1869.
Macedon Grammar School operated from 1979 to 2014. After its closure, the Alice Miller School opened. It focuses on the arts.
The State Government established the Macedon State Nursery in 1872. This encouraged replanting. It supplied seedlings to Victoria.
Macedon is often known as the town from Picnic at Hanging Rock. This is the 1975 mystery movie based on the novel of the same name. Parts of the 2009 film Knowing were shot around Macedon.