Longwood, Victoria


Longwood is a town in northern Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Strathbogie local government area, from the state capital, Melbourne. At the, Longwood and the surrounding area had a population of 240.

History

Longwood was first located on the old Sydney to Melbourne Highway serving as a staging post for the horse-drawn coaches. The town moved east by around 4 km when the railway was built and a station established at Longwood.
The Post Office opened on 1 July 1852 and the office named Longwood Railway Station opened in 1881. Longwood was later renamed Longwood East and Longwood Railway Station was renamed to Longwood. The town and surrounding countryside was the scene of a devastating bushfire on 17 January 1965. Seven people died fleeing the flames in a car.

Today

The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Kyabram & District Football League.
There is one primary school, Longwood Primary School. It has a small student population but a large plantation area at the back where the students can build houses and explore nature. There are 2 teachers at the school and the current Principal is Mr. Michael Greenaway.
The town is home to one hotel, The White Hart, moved to its current location on the corner of Down and Hill Streets when the Melbourne-Sydney train line was constructed around 1880. It serves food and beverages every day except 26 December and 1 January.

Notable people

The town was the birthplace of World War I veterans, Victoria Cross recipient Frederick Harold Tubb, Lieutenant-Colonel Aubrey Roy Liddon Wiltshire and Army Medical Officer, Sir Charles Ryan and his sister, botanical artist Ellis Rowan, both at "Killeen Station".