Shelford is a town in Victoria, Australia. The locality is in the Golden Plains Shire near the regional city of

Geelong Geelong ( ) (Wathawurrung language, Wathawurrung: ''Djilang''/''Djalang'') is a port city in Victoria, Australia, located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay) and the left bank of Barwon River (Victo ...

and west of the state capital,

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 ...

. Shelford is nestled in a valley divided by the Leigh River, Golf Hill Station was established in 1836 on the river banks. In 1839 George Russell bought land from the crown to move his HQ to there. Most of the local squatters came from Scotland so the town had a strong Presbyterian feel and had two churches. The Post Office opened on 1 July 1847 with the town names ''The Leigh'' which was renamed ''Shelford'' in 1854. By 1865 the town had a court house, post office, a mechanics institute and two hotels. In 1874 the Shelford Bridge was constructed using iron imported from Liverpool. In about 1890 Janet Biddlecombe started to manage the Golf Hill station taking over from her brother. She married in 1900 and new new husband became the manager. The two of them ran a stud for Hereford cows. The prize winning bulls were all sold in aid of charity in 1953. Janet, then a childless widow, died in 1954, The town was never large; in the 1930s the town had a population of 130 persons. After the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

some larger land holding were carved up for a soldier settlement scheme. Sixty-nine farms covering 45,000 acres were sold off to returning servicemen and their families. In 1994 the Post Office became a Licensed Post Office, and has since closed; the date of closure is unknown.

Heritage listed sites

Shelford contains a number of heritage listed sites, including: * 1372 Rokewood-Shelford Road, Leigh Shire Hall and Toll House * Shelford-Bannockburn Road, Leigh River Iron Bridge

Shelford Today

Shelford today still has a Recreation Reserve where the Shelford Cricket Club play their home games and the Recreation Reserve has tennis courts and a basketball court as well. Shelford also has a Primary School and a Town Hall.

References

Towns in Victoria (state) Golden Plains Shire {{GrampiansAU-geo-stub