Can you imagine wild acacia bushes dotting the landscape? This is Willow Grove. It is not just a name, it is a description of the area. Let’s explore this small township nestled in the foothills of the Great Dividing Ranges.
Willow Grove is located 137 km east of Melbourne. It is also 17 km north of Trafalgar in West Gippsland. The area’s story begins around 1850. At that time, the Hill End pastoral run was established. It was used for cattle from larger Gippsland runs.
Gold changed everything in 1859. It was discovered in the Tanjil River tributaries. A track was carved to the gold field. Tangil, a township, emerged along the river. The Baw Baw diggings held 1500 to 2000 people at their peak.
Settlers arrived in the mid-1860s. They selected land along the Latrobe River. They cleared the open forest for farms. They supplied produce to miners in Tangil and Walhalla. They also supplied railway camps at Moe. An eating house stood at the Melbourne road junction, south of the Latrobe River.
In 1883, La Trobe River School opened north of the river. Six years later, in 1889, a transformation occurred. An old wine shanty became a post office. The district was officially named Willow Grove. People say the name came from the wild acacia, known locally as “wild willow” or “willow scrub.”
The year 1892 saw the construction of a creamery near the post office. The post office expanded to include a hotel, store and hall. By 1903, Willow Grove was a growing town. A public hall was built in 1904.
When the swamps north of Trafalgar were drained, a track to the town was created. Farmers started taking their cream to the co-operative butter factory there. This led to the closure of Willow Grove’s creamery in 1905. Despite this, dairying remained Willow Grove’s main activity.
Willow Grove continued to be the heart of the farming district. The hotel’s license lapsed in 1929. However, another store and a garage were built. In 1933, the school was relocated to the township reserve. A fire destroyed the hall in 1952. A new building soon replaced it. The recreation reserve is used by sporting clubs. New Year’s Day sports started in 1906. These included foot-races, wood-chopping and trotting carnivals.
In the 1930s, willows found a new purpose. They were used for cricket bats and berry fruit boxes. Today, Willow Grove still has a post office, school, hall and general store. You can also find tennis courts and a recreation reserve here.
Nearby, Blue Rock Lake is a modern addition. Completed in 1983, it dams the Tanjil River. It provides water for the Latrobe Valley. The lake offers boating, fishing and picnic spots.
As of 2021, Willow Grove had a population of 654 people. Dairying remains a key part of the local economy. From wild willows to a thriving community, Willow Grove has a rich history. It reflects the spirit of West Gippsland. This is a place where nature and community intertwine.