Boon wurrung people might have called this place “mudholes” or “waterholes”. That’s because Tyabb, where we find the Tyabb Bushland Reserve, likely gets its name from an Aboriginal word describing such features. Let’s explore the Tyabb Bushland Reserve and uncover its story.
Tyabb itself is a rural-residential area. It sits on the western side of Westernport Bay. The area was once part of the Bunguyan pastoral run. Martha King took it up in 1845. You can still see the Bunguyan Reserve north of the town center. It marks the spot of her homestead.
Pastoralists and farmers long noted the Tyabb waterholes to the north. These natural water sources were vital. In 1861, a Tyabb township was proclaimed. It was north of present-day Hastings. This area became known as Old Tyabb Township. Tyabb is on flat land that used to be swampy. The ground rises about 2 km west. This area saw considerable settlement with farms and orchards.
A second Tyabb village started when a school opened on Jones Road in 1891. By that time, the railway had opened to Crib Point. It passed through the present township. This is where Tyabb ultimately developed.
A public hall was built in 1899. A progress association formed in 1902. They established a recreation reserve in 1904. A racecourse north of the old Bunguyan homestead was used regularly in the 1900s. The Tyabb Railway Station school opened in 1907. It co-existed with the older school on Jones Road.
Orcharding thrived thanks to the railway. Tyabb even had an annual show, starting in 1911. A large cool store was built by the railway station in 1914. Orcharding remained strong until the 1960s. Many orchard holdings became too small to be economical. Land costs made it hard to expand. Many orchardists sold their land. They moved east to Gippsland. Land speculation around industrial development on Western Port Bay pushed prices even higher. Rural-residential land subdivisions absorbed former farmland.
During the 1960s and 1970s, an airfield was built southwest of Tyabb township. This was not without public dispute. Tyabb added a unique retail function to its shopping area. The cool store was converted into an antiques market. Craftspeople set up workshops in the grounds. The former Anglican church and several main street shops also became antique businesses.
Today, Tyabb has three public reserves and two bushland reserves. It also features a church and a public hall. A compact shopping center serves the community. Two State primary schools operate here. Flinders Christian Community College opened in 1983. The Peninsula Aero Club is located at the airfield. The railway line provides regular passenger services to Frankston.
The Tyabb Township Plan was released in 2012. It prioritizes maintaining the rural village character. It also aims to improve connections between residential areas and local facilities.
Tyabb Bushland Reserve is more than just a nature spot. It is a reminder of Tyabb’s history. It reflects the changes from an Aboriginal meeting place to farmland to a modern community. Take a moment to appreciate the layers of history within this bushland. Consider the people who shaped this place, from the Boon wurrung to the farmers and residents of today.