Stonehaven, Victoria

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]

Stonehaven
Geelong, Victoria
Former school at Stonehaven
Stonehaven
Coordinates38°07′21″S 144°13′31″E
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

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]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Stonehaven (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  2. "Polwarth District Polling Places". pandora.nla.gov.au. 2004. Archived from the original on 3 December 2002. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  3. "Geelong Grammar School and the wine industry". pandora.nla.gov.au. September 2003. Archived from the original on 10 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 – PPA". premierpostal.com. 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  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.



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