Stonehaven, Victoria

Stonehaven
Geelong, Victoria
Former school at Stonehaven
Stonehaven is located in Golden Plains Shire
Stonehaven
Stonehaven
Coordinates38°07′21″S 144°13′31″E / 38.12250°S 144.22528°E / -38.12250; 144.22528
Population81 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)3221
LGA(s)Golden Plains Shire
State electorate(s)Polwarth
Federal division(s)Corangamite
Suburbs around Stonehaven:
Bannockburn Gheringhap Batesford
Murgheboluc Stonehaven Fyansford
Gnarwarre Barrabool Ceres
Stonehaven CFA

Stonehaven is a small settlement about 10 km west of Geelong, Victoria, on the Hamilton Highway. It consists of a number of scattered farmhouses, the former primary school building (now a private residence), a community hall (now derelict) and a Country Fire Authority (CFA) fire station. The fire station is sometimes used as a polling booth for state and federal elections.[2] The Ceres Bridge Estate winery has its vineyard in Stonehaven, producing chardonnay and pinot noir.[3]

The community started agitating for a post office as early as 1883, when over 30 people signed a petition to the government.[4] The Stonehaven Post Office opened in 1927 and was closed in 1958.[5]

The school was No. 2199. A contract for £320 15s 6d to build a wooden school building was given to H. Moran in April 1879.[6] From 1879 to 1926 the school was known as the Lower Leigh State School.[7] In 1880 the teacher, J. McCann, wrote to the Geelong Advertiser about the difficulty students from Barrabool had reaching the school after a flood had damaged the bridge.[8] In 1935 the Public Works Department approved additions to the teacher's residence at the school to a value of £309.[9]

In 1953, farmers discovered rabbits at Stonehaven which had become immune to myxomatosis.[10] These so-called "super rabbits" had appeared only three years after the virus had been released to control rabbit numbers.

In 2012 a CFA fire truck became bogged in a paddock at Stonehaven while fighting a grass fire. The crew had to abandon the $500,000 tanker which was extensively damaged by the fire.[11]

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Stonehaven (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 31 August 2017. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Polwarth District Polling Places". webarchive.nla.gov.au. 2004. Archived from the original on 2 December 2002. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Geelong Grammar School and the wine industry". webarchive.nla.gov.au. September 2003. Archived from the original on 9 October 2003. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  4. ^ "TOWN TALK". Geelong Advertiser. Vic. 17 December 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 9 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Post Office List". www.phoenixauctions. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  6. ^ "MELBOURNE". Geelong Advertiser. Vic. 30 April 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 9 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Public Record Office Victoria online catalogue". access.prov.vic.gov.au. 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  8. ^ "LOWER LEIGH STATE SCHOOL". Geelong Advertiser. Vic. 6 October 1880. p. 3. Retrieved 8 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "TENDERS ACCEPTED Public Works Department". The Argus. Melbourne. 9 November 1935. p. 28. Retrieved 8 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "'Super-rabbits' now!". The Argus. 27 November 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Gnarwarre crew praised". CFA Connect. 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.