YARRA GLEN Yarra Glen is encounted when traveling the Melbourne to Yea (or vice versa) route. Yarra Glen is not yet a part of Melbourne, but is only ‘minutes’ away from being succumbed. Yarra Glen is a really nice small town and the traveller will quite delight in the place. The Ryrie brothers (William, James and Donald) were the first Europeans to settle in the area, when they established the 43,000 acres (170 km2) Yering run in 1837 after droving their cattle to the area from NSW. The brothers planted the first grape vines in the Yarra Valley in 1838 and produced their first wine in 1845. The Post Office opened on 11 January 1861 as Yarra Flats and was renamed Yarra Glen in 1889 when the railway arrived The now National Trust-listed Yarra Glen Grand Hotel was established in 1888. Its four story Italianate tower was added subsequent to the construction of the original hotel building. The Grand Hotel has for a century been a place to visit/stay when visiting this small town. Most probably race days. The Black Friday fires of 1939 badly damaged the area around Yarra Glen. In recent history the town has not developed so gives the appearance of little heritage. The Grand Hotel has for a century been a place to visit/stay when visiting this small town. Most probably race days. The Congregational Churches are a mix of the old and not so old. The Catholic being up the hill from the cbd. The Yarra Glen War Memorial is near the RSL building at the northern end of town. When in the area the Grand Hotel will beckon. Heritage diary