GEMBROOK
Gembrook is encounted when traveling
the Melbourne to the mountains road. Gembrook is a sort of an end of
the road town. Gembrook is also on the Pakenham to Yarra Junction
route. This is a nice town and if visiting Emerald or if passing
through take a few minutes to delight in the quaintness of this small
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Gembrook was
settled in 1873 for farming and timber; the surrounding countryside
was suitable for both dairy and orchards. Timber provided income while
farms were established. The name Gembrook came from the small gems
that were found in small creeks and watercourses in the surrounding
area.
The Post Office
opened on 5 October 1877.
The
Gembrook railway line was opened from Upper Ferntree Gully on 18
December 1900. The narrow gauge line, these days known as Puffing
Billy,
brought tourists from Melbourne, as well as enabling timber and local
produce, including fruit trees and potatoes, to be taken back to
Melbourne. At its peak there were more than 20 timber mills operating
in Gembrook and the surrounding area, with tramways operating between
the mills and the railway station. The Ranges hotel,
which still operates today, was built in 1901 to cater for the local
population as well as day trippers from Melbourne. After the
devastating fires in 1926 and 1939 which destroyed many of the timber
mills, there was talk of closing the line.
Today
Gembrook is seen as a suburb of Melbourne as it is within the
Melbourne metropolitan area. Gembrook no longer relies on the income
generated from farming and lumber but rather from tourism and other
professional services.
All
of the congregational churches are active in Gembrook. These are old
original buildings.   
The
Gembrook War Memorial is located at the southern entrance to the town,
plus the memorial Avenue.    
A
picnic amongst the tall timbers beckons.
Heritage diary
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