Gembrook general store circa 1918

Image File history File links Gembrook1. ... Image File history File links Gembrook1. ...

Gembrook

Gembrook is a small picturesque town located roughly 54km from Melbourne's CBD. Gembrook was settled in 1873 for farming and timber, the surrounding countryside was suitable for both dairy and orchards. Timber provided income while farms were established. The name Gembrook came from the small gems that were found in small creeks and watercourses in the surrounding area.

Gembrook is a popular destination for the residents of Melbourne as it is less than 1 hour's drive from the city center. Melbourne is the state capital and largest city in the Australian state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia (after Sydney), with a population of approximately 3. ...

The Railway Line

The Gembrook railway line was opened on the 18th December 1900, it was a narrow gauge line from Belgrave which is less than 18km away. The railway brought tourism from Melbourne, and it also enable timber to be taken back to Melbourne. At its peak there were more than 20 timber mills operating in Gembrook and the surrounding area, with tramlines operating between the mills and the railway station. The Ranges hotel which still operates today was built in 1901 to cater for the local population as well as day trippers from Melbourne. In 1954 the decision was made to close the railway line after the devasting fires in 1926 and 1939 which destroyed many of the timber mills. The line closed on 30th April 1954 after a landslide blocked part of the line (the line was already scheduled to be closed because motor traffic had replaced much of the railways patronage). In 1962 the western end of the Gembrook railway line which extended from Belgrave to Emerald Lake was opened as a scenic railway, and a short section from Gembrook was opened in the early 1990's. In 1998 services resumed between Belgrave and Gembrook. Belgrave may be: Belgrave, England a suburb of Leicester. ... Timber Timber is a term used to describe wood that has been processed for use —from the time trees are felled, to its end product as a material suitable for industrial use —such as structural material for construction or wood pulp for paper production. ... Melbourne is the state capital and largest city in the Australian state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia (after Sydney), with a population of approximately 3. ... Belgrave may be: Belgrave, England a suburb of Leicester. ...

Modern Gembrook

Today Gembrook is seen as a suburb of Melbourne as it is within the Melbourne metropolitan area. Gembrook no longer relies on the income generated from farming and lumber but rather from tourism and other professional services. The current population of Gembrook is a little over 700, however this is expected to rise as a number of estates are being built in and around Gembrook. A market which focuses on sustainable living is held once a month at the railway station. It is currently located within the Shire of Cardinia, and is within the state electoral area of Gembrook, and the federal electorate area of Latrobe. The Shire of Cardinia is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. ...

References

• http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/ncas/multimedia/gazetteer/list/gembrook.html Accessed(12/12/05)
• http://www.puffingbilly.com.au