From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ferntree Gully Melbourne, Victoria
Population:	24,724 (2006)[1]
Established:	1880s
Postcode:	3156
Area:	15.9 km² (6.1 sq mi)
Property Value:	AUD $282,000 [2]
Location:	32 km (20 mi) from Melbourne
LGA:	City of Knox
State District:	Ferntree Gully
Federal Division:	Aston, La Trobe
Suburbs around Ferntree Gully: Boronia Boronia The Basin Knoxfield Ferntree Gully Tremont Rowville Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully

Ferntree Gully is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, in the state of Victoria. It is in the Local Government Area of the City of Knox, near the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges.

Contents 1 Environment 2 History 3 Community 3.1 Places of Worship 3.2 Sport 4 Community Groups 4.1 Education 5 Transport 6 Former Famous Residents 7 References 8 External links

Natural features include a large part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park which forms a picturesque backdrop to Ferntree Gully, especially the Ferntree Gully village part of the suburb. Important features of that national park include One Tree Hill (formerly a fire-lookout, but now covered with trees, the lookout is in disrepair) and the Kokoda Trail, a memorial walk dedicated to the Kokoda Trail of WW2 (includes interpretive signage)—this part of the National Park is located in the neighbouring suburb of Upper Ferntree Gully—and accessed via the Mt Dandenong Tourist Road. It is also a place for picnics and exercise, where many community groups meet.

Ferntree Gully, initially known as Fern Tree Gully, is named after the gully which runs from One Tree Hill to the Upper Ferntree Gully township. The picturesque scenery and lush flora started attracting recreational visitors from the 1870s. In 1882 the gully was set aside for public use. Throughout the 1880s the township began to grow, shops were established, as well as hotels, churches, and a primary school. With the arrival of the railway line (extended from Ringwood) in 1889, the area became more accessible to visitors. Initially the line terminated at Upper Ferntree Gully, with a narrow-gauge line extending to Gembrook in 1900. The Shire of Fern Tree Gully also was proclaimed in 1889. The old shire offices, in Ferntree Gully, have been restored and now house a community health service. They were also used as the local library for many years. The Ferntree Gully cemetery is the resting place of a number of historically significant local people.

Ambleside Homestead, in Olivebank Road, Ferntree Gully, is the base for the Knox Historical Society. It was built in the 1890s and is the local history museum. It holds extensive collections of historic documents and photographs dating back to the 1800s. Period furnishings and artefacts and vintage farm equipment reflect the pioneer life and development of the area. Ambleside is open each Sunday from 1p.m. to 4p.m. and on other days by appointment. Access the Knox History database through www.khs.relics.com

W. Kennedy-Ross, a Scot, secured the title to the triangular section bounded by Ferntree Gully Road, Scoresby Road and Burwood Highway, in 1872. About 1886, Ross erected the Hunting Tower Hotel, which was replaced a few years later by the Club Hotel. The owner of this hotel, one W. Town, gave the name Kent Park to the area west of Dobson Street.

In the early 1900s, the 180 acres of Kent Park were used for general grazing, farming, growing oats and keeping a variety of livestock.

A John Aitken bought Kent Park in 1913, selling most of the original purchase to a Mr Powell in 1921. The latter then sold to a Brigadier Knox, who in turn sold all except 10 acres to Alex Creswick. In 1968/69, Hooker-Rex Estates purchased from the Creswick family, some 110 acres for the current housing estate. The Education Department bought the land on which Kent Park primary school now stands, the school opened in February 1975.

There is the Ferntree Gully library and community centre, where the Knox Festival is held in March of every other year (the other Festival being held in Rowville).

Also the Christmas Carols are in Ferntree Gully. Formerly on Dorset Road (the Arboretum), they are now on the grounds of the Community Centre every year in December.

Human features of Ferntree Gully include the Cool Store, the Knox Environment Society (based at the rear of Ferntree Gully Secondary College) and the Knox Historical Society (based at Ambleside Historical homestead). Also there are three pubs, all on Burwood Highway, and a retirement village (Amaroo).

Mountain Gate Shopping centre lies on the corner of Ferntree Gully Rd and Mountain Gate Drive. Its shopping centres include Safeway, Coles, a newsagency and plenty of local butchers and bakeries.

A Community Supermarket located at 18 Alpine Street, Ferntree Gully was established by the Bayside Dream Centre to provide groceries and other essential items to disadvantaged people within the community at affordable prices. This service is available to all people, not only health-care or concession card owners. It is a not-for-profit enterprise.

There are a number of groups providing for the local community. These include St Bartholomew's Anglican Church, Hills Christian Life Church, Ferntree Gully Baptist Church, Ferntree Gully Independent Baptist Church, Armenian Catholic Church, Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, Foothills Community Church, Knoxfield Church of Christ, Olive Branch Fellowship, Salvation Army and Ferntree Gully Uniting Church.

There are a number of sports represented in Ferntree Gully including cricket, netball (the Mountain Districts Netball Association courts are based in Ferntree Gully, basketball, Australian rules football (Ferntree Gully Eagles play in the Eastern Football League), baseball, tennis, swimming (Knox-Sherbrooke Swimming Centre), table tennis, lawn bowls and gymnastics (Knox Gymnastics Centre).

Community groups include Scouts, Girl Guides, Rotary and Probus Club.

Schools include (Ferntree Gully Secondary College (7-12), closed in 2007), St Joseph's Regional College (Boys Catholic, 7-12) and several other schools, including Wattleview, Ferntree Gully North, Kent Park, Mountain Gate Primary School, St John the Baptist, and Fairhills. The U3A (University of the Third Age) for retired persons is a co-operative education setting located in Ferntree Gully.

Ferntree Gully has a railway station located on Station Street, near the shopping district. Bus routes also service the suburb.

Retired Cricketer Shane Warne was born in Ferntree Gully on September 13, 1969

• Ferntree Gully, Victoria is at coordinates 37°52′44″S 145°16′59″E / -37.879, 145.283Coordinates: 37°52′44″S 145°16′59″E / -37.879, 145.283

v • d • e Suburbs of the City of Knox | Melbourne | Victoria
Bayswater · Boronia · Ferntree Gully · Knoxfield · Lysterfield · Rowville · Scoresby · The Basin · Wantirna · Wantirna South