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Well, what is my town? To my
knowledge it started out as a Pub on the road to the Ballarat Goldfield's, it was a good
days travel west from Melbourne. It is based on volcanic plains with mainly grass and a
few struggling trees along the creek beds. So our history is a Pub, a few graves in the
golf course, the courthouse and the Mechanic's Institute. Melton was a sleepy one
horse town for a hundred years, till the government decided it should become a Satellite
city, 1 of 3 to be developed around Melbourne. So the masses started to arrive in the mid
70's, I was one of them! |
Mechanic's
Institute, High St. |
What did this new status means?
not much actually, but things did get better slowly, but, now that the city has got
to our shire boundaries, things are really moving ahead for the town.
Our residents basically travel out of town to work for the day and return at night to eat and
rest so we can do it all again tomorrow! But at least we don't have to travel to
shop anymore, a new and large shopping complex has been built where most of the good shops
are situated. |
The Main (oldest)
Shopping Strip in town. |
Our town
still retains its country character, (we cannot afford anything else!) so we have our tree
lined streets and small shopping strips located on either side of the main street, High St.
This street was once the main Western Highway to Ballarat and the Adelaide, SA.
We got our first controlled intersection when it became almost impossible to cross
over High street in the peak hour. Time caught up to us (fortunately) and in the late
80's a freeway was pushed through where everyone new it would go as it had been planned
for years, splitting the town in two as is often the case with freeways! But overall
it's a great for us. We have got rid of the through traffic and have developed a community
with some lovely walking tracks and parks |
Shopping Centre, a boon
for us. |
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 Hanna
Watts Park |
A few years ago
when many local government councils were amalgamated to form larger more efficient
structures, Government appointed CEO's were put in place to oversee the changes.
Voting was held to see if a return to the traditional council structures with
elected representatives was to return, We were the only Shire/city in the state to vote
to keep the CEO's, and this a Labor/Union stronghold. Performance counted.
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For its small size we must have the highest Take-away shops per capita in Australia, Fish & Chips,
Pizza, Chinese, Mexican, Burgers, Italian and my favourite Thai.
Tantalizing Thai - Be there, taste the Difference!
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The Best little
Thai Restaurant |
Shire Offices and Hall |
Overall a good place to live!
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