Red Hill, Victoria

Red Hill Victoria
General store
Red Hill
Coordinates	38°21′18″S 145°00′58″E / 38.355°S 145.016°ECoordinates: 38°21′18″S 145°00′58″E / 38.355°S 145.016°E
Population	731 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	3937
Location	73 km (45 mi) from Melbourne 14 km (9 mi) from Rosebud
LGA(s)	Shire of Mornington Peninsula
State electorate(s)	Nepean
Federal Division(s)	Flinders
Localities around Red Hill: Safety Beach Mount Martha Merricks North Main Ridge Red Hill Red Hill South Flinders Shoreham Point Leo

Red Hill is a small rural community, located in the hinterland of the Mornington Peninsula, about an hour's drive south of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia. Its local government area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. At the 2011 census, Red Hill had a population of 731.^[1]

History

Its name derives from the rich, red clay that has made the area predominantly agricultural from its first European settlement in the mid-nineteenth century. The area now known as Red Hill contains land in three parishes: Kangerong, Wannaeue (only 626 acres) and Balnarring. Kangerong is north of Arthurs Seat Rd and west of Red Hill Rd. Wannaeue is west of Mornington-Flinders Rd. The rest of Red Hill and Red hill South are in Balnarring parish.

Many Red Hill streets are named after pioneers: Sheehan, McIlroy, Stanley, Bayne, Arkwell, Eaton, Nash, Perry (sic) and Callanan.

Red Hill Post Office opened on 1 August 1871.^[2] A railway also operated here between 1921 and 1959 and was known as the Red Hill railway line.

Today

The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League.

A monthly community market is held from September through May.^[3] Patrons can still watch old time games like Pétanque being played and smell the roasting of chestnuts. Other traditional Australian foods such as meat pies and jam donuts are also sold.

Since the 1970s, wineries have been established around Red Hill to take advantage of the microclimates that suits cool climate grapes, and especially pinot noir.^[4] Strawberries, cherries and apples are also grown and available seasonally at the farm door.^[5]

Notable residents

• Herbert Robinson (1876–1919), later mayor of Albany, Western Australia, and member of the Parliament of Western Australia

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Red Hill (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
2. Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 2008-04-11
3. Red Hill and Main Ridge - Tourism Victoria, retrieved 2011-07-25
4. Mornington Peninsula Wine Region - Tourism Victoria, retrieved 2011-07-25
5. Local Produce, Mornington Peninsula - Tourism Victoria, retrieved 2011-07-25

External links

• Red Hill and Main Ridge - Government tourism site