Kangaroo Flat, Victoria
| Kangaroo Flat Bendigo, Victoria | |||||||||||||
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 Main street | |||||||||||||
  Kangaroo Flat | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 36°47′S 144°14′E / 36.783°S 144.233°ECoordinates: 36°47′S 144°14′E / 36.783°S 144.233°E | ||||||||||||
| Population | 9,492 (2011)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3555 | ||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Greater Bendigo | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Bendigo | ||||||||||||
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Kangaroo Flat is a suburb of the Greater City of Bendigo in Victoria, Australia. It is located 5 kilometres (3 miles) South-West of the Bendigo CBD. Kangaroo Flat is neighbours with Golden Square, Big Hill, Lockwood, Maiden Gully and Mandurang. Kangaroo Flat derived its name from the large "mobs" (groups) of Eastern Grey Kangaroos encountered around gold miners' campsites and in the vast bush (forest) landscapes around Bendigo.
History
Prior to the gold rush the Bendigo (called Sandhurst, in those days) district was part of a large sheep station known as "the Ravenswood Run". Discovery of very significant gold deposits in the 1850s resulted in a huge influx of people to the region, all eager to seek their fortune. People came from all over the world, from places such as England, Holland, Ireland, The United States, Germany and others. Many of those seeking gold came from Mainland China. Chinese miners conducted diligent searches of alluvial (surface level) and shallow mine-sites. Characteristically "round" Chinese digs are still able to be viewed in places such as Charcoal Gully, a bushland reserve located between Morrison and Thomas Streets to the southwest of Kangaroo Flat's town centre. This Chinese influence was at first resented by other diggers, many who came from European countries with little or no understanding of the Asian lifestyle. Concerted efforts by Chinese settlers to assist the community led eventually to their being embraced and later celebrated in the district.
Bendigo and several satellite towns including Kangaroo Flat, Golden Square, Eaglehawk and White Hills, sprung up essentially as tent cities. These gave way to more permanent structures and the current street layout was essentially established by the 1880s. The Post Office opened on 2 February 1857.[2]
The population of Kangaroo Flat itself decreased along with the rest of the "Sandhurst" region as the gold rush resided, although the town has always maintained its own cultural heritage and identity. Of historical note, Kangaroo Flat is home to the Crusoe Reservoir, built during the gold rush to supply water to Bendigo's goldfields. Water for the reservoir came from a series of channels reaching as far south as Kyneton. Crusoe's filtration system included a highly-effective lime/sand-based installation. The reservoir is open today as a recreation park, providing a unique example of 1850s engineering.
At November 2016, with the town's population approaching 17,000 residents, local facilities have been upgraded to keep pace with community needs.
Dower Park, Kangaroo Flat's principal sporting complex and home to the local football, cricket, bowling & swimming clubs, has been transformed. A modern sports club with restaurant & gaming facilities was completed in recent years, as was a new grandstand on the Western side of the oval. An indoor aquatic centre is being constructed in Browning Street while a new Ambulance Station operates in View Street. Kangaroo Flat Fire Brigade, established in 1873, has relocated from its long-held home in Station Street, to a new site in Helms Street, adjacent to Charcoal Gully. The new fire station houses four firefighting appliances and modern, well-appointed facilities for its volunteer fire fighters.
A number of lovely old churches, built in the mid-1800s, give testimony to a well-established community with strong British ties. St. Monica's Roman Catholic Church sits at the Northern end of Kangaroo Flat's busy "Main" business & shopping street, striking red brick & white masonry trim creating a unique landmark. Its newly modernised Catholic primary school is located directly opposite on the corner of Station Street. The Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church, (formerly Methodist) occupies a similar prominent spot on the Southern approach to the main street. Standing in an elevated position in Camp Street, it looks west towards Lockwood Road and the town's famous farming district. The Kangaroo Flat Baptist Church is to be found in Church Street, just a short stroll from Camp Street. Formerly the Kangaroo Flat Presbyterian Church, it has a long & proud history in the local area.
Possibly the saddest tale though, belongs to St. Mary's Anglican Church, situated a little further along Melbourne Road from the Uniting Church. A part of Kangaroo Flat since gold rush times, the church was destroyed by a horrific fire in December 2008. Originally constructed around 1862, with light-drenched, airy interiors, the main building had housed stone & timber tablets paying tribute to community members. A Flight Sergeant killed over England during the Second World War, a much-loved resident Minister, & a young girl from the parish flock; these & others commemorated on St. Mary's walls reinforced the importance of community itself within the church. A massive oil painting in modern style, completed in the 1950s by Anne Moller, a young local girl, depicted the birth, crucifixion & resurrection of the Lord Jesus. It formed a striking thematic above the altar. It was lost in the fire along with nearly all of the Parish's history. The church and community rallied to raise funds, and in mid-2014 a new, modern facility was opened where the original building had stood. It features a modern church and facilities with which to serve the parish & community well into the future.
Kangaroo Flat has come a long way from its early beginnings. The 4-lane Calder Highway carries thousands of vehicles on a 90-minute trip to the nearby Victorian capital city of Melbourne and suburbs. Three large shopping precincts cater to the growing demographic, and a beautifully restored and upgraded railway station allows commuters easy access to the V/Line Fast Train system linking Bendigo to Melbourne and other large urban districts.
Today
Kangaroo Flat is home to the Kangaroos Football and Netball team in the Bendigo Football League, Lansell Square, and recently completed Rocklea Homemakers centre. "The Flat", as locals lovingly refer to their home town, offers impressive accommodation choices for travellers as well as longer-term visitors. Six motels are located within easy walking distance of the town centre. For something different, the A Line Holiday Park offers comfortable cabin-style lodgings on the tree-lined Southern approach to the town. Kangaroo Flat boasts a number of distinguished educational institutions; [Crusoe Secondary College]], Kangaroo Flat Primary School, St. Monica's Primary School, the Bendigo campus of Glenvale Primary School and Bendigo Special Development School.
Lansell Square located on the Calder Highway was opened in 1979 with a K-Mart department store, Coles and Safeway Supermarkets, as well as 55 speciality stores. This centre, already of impressive size and function, is about to be upgraded again, indicative of the huge population growth experienced by Kangaroo Flat in recent times.
References
- ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Kangaroo Flat (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2014-12-03.
- ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 2008-04-11.