Ferntree Gully, Victoria
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Ferntree Gully is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, in the state of Victoria. It is in the Local Government Area of the City of Knox, near the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges.
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Natural Features
Natural features include a large part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Important features of that national park include One Tree Hill (formerly a fire-lookout, but now covered with trees, the lookout in disrepair) and the Kokoda Trail, a memorial walk dedicated to the Kokoda Trail of WW2 (includes interpretive signage). It is also a place for picnics and exercise, where many community groups meet.
History
Ferntree Gully, initially known as Fern Tree Gully, is named after the gully which runs from One Tree Hill to Upper Ferntree Gully township. The picturesque scenery and lush flora started attracting recreational visitors from the 1870s. In 1882 the gully was set aside for public use. Throughout the 1880s the township began to grow, shops were established, as well as hotels, churches, and a primary school. With the arrival of the railway line (extended from Ringwood) in 1889, the area became more accessible to visitors. Initially the line terminated at Upper Ferntree Gully, with a narrow-gauge line extending to Gembrook. The shire of Fern Tree Gully was proclaimed the same year.
Community
There is the Ferntree Gully library (http://www.erl.vic.gov.au/using/fern.htm) and the community centre, where the Knox Festival is held in March.
Also the Christmas Carols are in Ferntree Gully. Formerly on Dobsons Road (the Arboretum), they are now on the grounds of the Community Centre every year in December.
Human features of Ferntree Gully include the Cool Store, and the Knox Environment Society. Also there are three pubs, all on Burwood Highway, and the Mountain Gate shopping precinct. There is a retirement village (Amaroo), a sizable amount of pre-schools and kindergartens, and the William Anglis Hospital (established 1954).
Education
Schools include Ferntree Gully College (7-12), St Joseph's (Boys Catholic, 7-12) and several primary schools, including Ferntree Gully PS, Ferntree Gully North PS, St John the Baptist PS, and Fairhills PS.
| City of Knox (All Melbourne Suburbs) |
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| Wantirna South | Boronia | The Basin |
| Knoxfield | Ferntree Gully | Upper Ferntree Gully |
| Scoresby | Rowville | Lysterfield |