Wensleydale, Victoria

Wensleydale is a small rural community in Victoria, Australia.

Wensleydale Victoria
Wensleydale
Coordinates	38°22′08″S 144°03′11″E
Population	107 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	3240
Elevation	200 m (656 ft)
Time zone	AEST (UTC)
Location	100 km (62 mi) from Melbourne 36 km (22 mi) from Geelong 41 km (25 mi) from Colac
LGA(s)	Surf Coast Shire
State electorate(s)	Polwarth
Federal Division(s)	Corangamite
Localities around Wensleydale: Winchelsea South Wurdiboluc Gherang Bambra Wensleydale Anglesea Boonah Eastern View Aireys Inlet

Wordieboluc Post Office opened on 15 March 1866 and was replaced by the Wensleydale office in 1872. It closed in 1955.[2]

Wensleydale was the terminus of a railway line which branched from the Port Fairy line near Moriac. The line opened in 1890 and was used to transport firewood, gravel and brown coal out of the area. It was closed in 1948.[3]

Wensleydale School opened on 1 January 1869 as a common school and became a state school in 1873. The school ceased to be staffed in 1951 and formally closed on 16 December 1953. The buildings were moved to the school at Colac West.[4]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Wensleydale (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
2. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
3. Harrigan, Leo J. "Victorian Railways to ‘62", Victorian Railways Public Relations and Betterment Board, 1962, p. 284.
4. Blake, L. J. (1973). Vision and Realisation: A Centenary History of State Education in Victoria (Volume 2). Education Department of Victoria. p. 1023.

Further reading

• Houghton, Norm (1982). The Saddle Line: A History of the Moriac to Wensleydale Railway. Geelong: self published. ISBN 0 9593013 0 5.