Riddells Creek is a town in Victoria,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, located in

Wurundjeri The Wurundjeri people are an Aboriginal peoples, Aboriginal people of the Woiwurrung language, Woiwurrung language group, in the Kulin nation. They are the traditional owners of the Yarra River Valley, covering much of the present location of ...

Country and the Shire of Macedon Ranges. It is located in between the cities of

Bendigo Bendigo ( ) is an Australian city in north-central Victoria. The city is located in the Bendigo Valley near the geographical centre of the state and approximately north-west of Melbourne, the state capital. As of 2022, Bendigo has a popula ...

and

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

. Riddells Creek is also the name of the main watercourse which flows through the township, and which is a tributary of Jacksons Creek to the south. The town is served by Riddells Creek railway station on the Bendigo line. At the , Riddells Creek had a population of 3574.

History

Riddells Creek falls in the traditional lands of the

people of the

Kulin nation The Kulin nation is an alliance of five Aboriginal nations in the south of Australia - up into the Great Dividing Range and the Loddon and Goulburn River valleys - which shares Culture and Language. History Before British colonisation, the ...

. Post colonial settlement, it was founded by John Carre Riddell and Thomas Ferrier Hamilton in 1841, when they purchased around of land and leased another . The dirt road running parallel and opposite to the train station, Hamilton Street, was home to Mr John Carre Riddell whose house now demolished was also the oldest house in Riddells Creek to date. Hamilton Street and the Road between New Gisborne and Riddells Creek is named Hamilton Road after Thomas Hamilton. Riddells Creek Post Office opened on 1 February 1859.

Environment and facilities

Riddells Creek is on the southern foothills of the Macedon Ranges. Riddells Creek is home to two historic railway bridges and is surrounded by natural bushland. There is also a small creek that runs through the town at Wybejong Park. Riddells Creek Primary School provides education for children in the area. Sporting and clubs in Riddells Creek include Riddells Creek Tennis Club, a Pony Club, Riddells Junior Basketball Association, Riddell Football Club, Cricket Club and Dog Obedience Club. There is also a Living and Learning Centre, the Riddells Creek Winery and Riddells Creek Landcare. Riddells Creek is home to the Dromkeen Museum, a nineteenth century homestead classified by the

National Trust of Australia The National Trust of Australia, officially the Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT), is the Australian national peak body for community-based, non-government non-profit organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's Ind ...

that is home to the Australian Children's Literature Collection. It also provides educational displays and programs relating to Australian children's literature. To the east of Riddells Creek, adjacent to the Mount Charlie State Forest, the Rowallan Recreation and Adventure Camp is owned by the

Scouts Scouting or the Scout Movement is a youth social movement, movement which became popularly established in the first decade of the twentieth century. It follows the Scout method of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activi ...

and

Guides A guide is a person who leads travelers, sportspeople, or tourists through unknown or unfamiliar locations. The term can also be applied to a person who leads others to more abstract goals such as knowledge or wisdom. Travel and recreation Exp ...

of Essendon Area. It is named after Lord Rowallan and opened in 1950. Riddells Creek also has a Railway Station served by trains on the Bendigo Line. Sometimes trains run express not stopping at many stations including Riddells Creek.

Airfield

Riddell Airfield is a small private airfield located east of Riddells Creek.

Gallery

File:RiddellsCreekMainStreet.JPG, Station street File:BridgeRiddellsCreek.JPG, Historic Railway Bridge File:Riddells Creek Mechanics Institute 001.JPG, The Mechanics Institute

References

External links

{{authority control Towns in Victoria (state) Shire of Macedon Ranges 1859 establishments in Australia