Monegeetta is a town north of

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

between the major towns of Sunbury and

Romsey Romsey ( ) is a historic market town in the county of Hampshire, England. Romsey was home to the 17th-century philosopher and economist William Petty and the 19th-century British prime minister, Lord Palmerston, whose statue has stood in the t ...

in fertile agricultural land east of the

Macedon Ranges The Macedon Ranges is a region in Central Victoria, known for its expansive native forests, vibrant arts scene, thriving food and wine industries (including weekly farmers' markets) and natural attractions such as Hanging Rock and Mount Macedon. It ...

. Its

local government area A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a State (administrative division), state, province, divi ...

is the

Shire of Macedon Ranges The Shire of Macedon Ranges is a region in Central Victoria, Australia, best known for its expansive native forests, iconic geographical attraction Hanging Rock, and thriving artisan food and wine industries. The region covers an area of . It is ...

History

The Post Office opened on 23 January 1911 as Monegatta South, was renamed Monegeeta (sic) in 1917 then Monegeetta around 1960 and closed in 1992. Another office nearby, Duck Holes, had opened in 1866, was renamed Monegatta in 1875, North Monegeeta in 1917, North Monegeetta around 1961 and closed in 1969. Monegeetta North, occasionally referred to as Duckholes, was historically a distinct locality, once featuring its own Hotel (1862-1896) and State school (1868-1903). The former Hotel building remains as a local landmark for travellers on the Melbourne-Lancefield Road. Both Monegeetta and North Monegeetta were stopping points on the Clarkefield-Lancefield railway which operated between 1881 and 1956.

Today

Monegeetta features Mintaro Homestead (1882), a smaller replica of Melbourne's

Government House Government House is the name of many of the official residences of governors-general, governors and lieutenant-governors in the Commonwealth and the remaining colonies of the British Empire. The name is also used in some other countries. Gover ...

built by a Captain Gardiner. The main facilities used by the Land Engineering Agency of the Australian Department of Defence are located near the town. These facilities are used to test

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...

equipment. The town contains a CFA fire station and general store, and a private bus company operates a commuter bus service to

for residents from Monday to Friday.

References

Towns in Victoria (Australia) Shire of Macedon Ranges {{australia-mil-stub