Riddells Creek is a town in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, Australia, located in

Wurundjeri The Wurundjeri people are an Australian Aboriginal people of the Woiwurrung language group, in the Kulin nation. They are the Traditional Owners of the Birrarung (Yarra River) Valley, covering much of the present location of Narrm (Melbo ...

Country and 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 ...

. It is located in between the cities of

Bendigo Bendigo ( ) is a city in Victoria, Australia, located in the Bendigo Valley near the geographical centre of the state and approximately north-west of Melbourne, the state capital. As of 2019, Bendigo had an urban population of 100,991, mak ...

and

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 me ...

. 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 The Deniliquin railway line (also known as the Echuca railway line) is a broad-gauge railway line serving northwestern Victoria, Australia. The line runs from the border settlement of Deniliquin into Bendigo, before turning south-southeast tow ...

. At the , Riddells Creek had a population of 3167.

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 south central Victoria, Australia. Their collective territory extends around Port Phillip and Western Port, up into the Great Dividing Range and the Loddon and Goulburn River vall ...

. Post colonial settlement, it was founded by

John Carre Riddell John Carre Riddell (4 June 1809 – 22 December 1879) was a politician in colonial Victoria (Australia), a member of the Victorian Legislative Council and later, the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Riddell (pronounced ''Riddle'') was born i ...

and

Thomas Ferrier Hamilton Thomas Ferrier Hamilton (31 March 1820 – 7 August 1905) was an Australian politician, pastoralist, and sportsman. A grandson of the 2nd Viscount Gort, he was born in Linlithgowshire, Scotland, but emigrated to Australia in 1839. Hamilton and ...

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 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 ...

. 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 a Pony Club, Riddells Junior Basketball Association,

Riddell Football Club The Riddell Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Bombers, is an Australian rules football club located 53 km north west of Melbourne in the town of Riddells Creek Riddells Creek is a town in Victoria, Australia, located in Wurundjeri Co ...

, 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 Kilteely and Dromkeen is an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly that is located in eastern County Limerick, Ireland. The southern part of the parish is centred on the village of Kilteely ( ga, Cill Tíle or ...

, 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 I ...

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, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpack ...

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 Expl ...

Essendon Essendon may refer to: Australia *Electoral district of Essendon *Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington *Essendon, Victoria **Essendon railway station **Essendon Airport *Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League United King ...

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.

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 (Australia) Towns in Loddon Campaspe Shire of Macedon Ranges 1859 establishments in Australia