Selby, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Selby is a suburb in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
, 37 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district
. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges
. At the 2006 Census, Selby had a population of 1396.
The town hosts the second station
on the narrow-gauge railway to Gembrook (now the Puffing Billy Railway
).
in May 1904 required a name. Selby was chosen, as a compliment to a local landowner and councillor, George Selby. The Post Office opened on August 1, 1913 (closing in 1994).
The land around Selby is particularly hilly, as evidenced by the curves in both the road and the railway. The eastern side of the township is dominated by the steep Black Hill, on which there is a reserve. Whilst the topography put restraints on farming it attracted tourists and weekenders. In the 1920s Selby's weekend population rivalled Belgrave's, but scarcity of subdivided land drew holiday makers and others away from Selby. Some notable Melburnians built homes in Selby, and the Carlotta Tye memorial Anglican church commemorates the wife of George Tye, owner of a Melbourne furniture emporium.
Selby's proximity to Belgrave ultimately attracted residential subdivisions, and a primary school was built in 1951. The township has several reserves and shops, including a General Store which continues to serve local needs.
Following a landslide beyond Selby in 1953, the narrow-gauge railway fell into disuse as a regular railway and was closed the following year, only to be re-opened in 1962 as the current Puffing Billy Railway
. Regular trains only stop at Selby if required, but this is rare.
Selby's census population rose from 159 in 1933 to 1,396 in 2006.
Wildlife abounds in and around Selby. King Parrots, Galahs, Yellow Tail Black Cockatoos, Black Wallabies, Echidnas, Koalas and Wombats are often sighted. Visits from Barking Owls have been recorded as recently as 2005.
fire brigade, whose area of primary protection includes the township of Selby, parts of the Dandenong Ranges National Park
, farmland, and other areas of bushland both private and public. It also includes a craft and produce market which opens on the third Saturday of each month, and a community house which offers community development as well as educational and IT services.
Selby Primary School was established in 1951. Puffing Billy and the historic trestle bridge are featured on the school logo. The school population has levelled out around 320 students. The school currently has fourteen classes, as well as specialist programs in Art/Craft, Music, Library, Japanese and Physical Education.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 37 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district
Melbourne city centre
Melbourne City Centre is an area of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is not to be confused with the larger local government area of the City of Melbourne...
. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges
Shire of Yarra Ranges
The Yarra Ranges Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the outer eastern and northeastern suburbs of Melbourne extending into the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges...
. At the 2006 Census, Selby had a population of 1396.
The town hosts the second station
Selby railway station, Melbourne
Selby Station was opened in May 1904, and named after the local landowner and Shire President W. Selby. The station consists of a short platform and corrugated iron waiting shelter. Trains do not normally stop here, but will stop if required....
on the narrow-gauge railway to Gembrook (now the Puffing Billy Railway
Puffing Billy Railway, Melbourne
The Puffing Billy Railway is a narrow gauge gauge heritage railway in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne, Australia. The primary starting point, operations and administration centre, main refreshment room and ticket purchasing are located at Belgrave station...
).
History
The settlement of Selby occurred in conjunction with Menzies Creek, a short distance eastwards. After the narrow-gauge railway opened 1900, the provision of a stationSelby railway station, Melbourne
Selby Station was opened in May 1904, and named after the local landowner and Shire President W. Selby. The station consists of a short platform and corrugated iron waiting shelter. Trains do not normally stop here, but will stop if required....
in May 1904 required a name. Selby was chosen, as a compliment to a local landowner and councillor, George Selby. The Post Office opened on August 1, 1913 (closing in 1994).
The land around Selby is particularly hilly, as evidenced by the curves in both the road and the railway. The eastern side of the township is dominated by the steep Black Hill, on which there is a reserve. Whilst the topography put restraints on farming it attracted tourists and weekenders. In the 1920s Selby's weekend population rivalled Belgrave's, but scarcity of subdivided land drew holiday makers and others away from Selby. Some notable Melburnians built homes in Selby, and the Carlotta Tye memorial Anglican church commemorates the wife of George Tye, owner of a Melbourne furniture emporium.
Selby's proximity to Belgrave ultimately attracted residential subdivisions, and a primary school was built in 1951. The township has several reserves and shops, including a General Store which continues to serve local needs.
Following a landslide beyond Selby in 1953, the narrow-gauge railway fell into disuse as a regular railway and was closed the following year, only to be re-opened in 1962 as the current Puffing Billy Railway
Puffing Billy Railway, Melbourne
The Puffing Billy Railway is a narrow gauge gauge heritage railway in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne, Australia. The primary starting point, operations and administration centre, main refreshment room and ticket purchasing are located at Belgrave station...
. Regular trains only stop at Selby if required, but this is rare.
Selby's census population rose from 159 in 1933 to 1,396 in 2006.
Wildlife abounds in and around Selby. King Parrots, Galahs, Yellow Tail Black Cockatoos, Black Wallabies, Echidnas, Koalas and Wombats are often sighted. Visits from Barking Owls have been recorded as recently as 2005.
Facilities
Selby contains a CFACountry Fire Authority
Country Fire Authority, or CFA, is the name of the fire service that provides firefighting and other emergency services to all of the country areas and regional townships within the state of Victoria, Australia, as well as large portions of the outer suburban areas and growth corridors of Melbourne...
fire brigade, whose area of primary protection includes the township of Selby, parts of the Dandenong Ranges National Park
Dandenong Ranges National Park
Dandenong Ranges National Park is in Victoria, Australia, 38 km east of Melbourne.Because the park is located in an urban area, the park has a long history of major problems with feral and roaming animals...
, farmland, and other areas of bushland both private and public. It also includes a craft and produce market which opens on the third Saturday of each month, and a community house which offers community development as well as educational and IT services.
Selby Primary School was established in 1951. Puffing Billy and the historic trestle bridge are featured on the school logo. The school population has levelled out around 320 students. The school currently has fourteen classes, as well as specialist programs in Art/Craft, Music, Library, Japanese and Physical Education.