Macedon, Victoria

Macedon Victoria
The Macedon Family Hotel, circa 2009
Macedon
Coordinates	37°25′S 144°34′E / 37.417°S 144.567°ECoordinates: 37°25′S 144°34′E / 37.417°S 144.567°E
Population	1,864 (2011)[1]
Postcode(s)	3440
Elevation	505 m (1,657 ft)
Location	61 km (38 mi) NW of Melbourne 90 km (56 mi) SE of Bendigo
LGA(s)	Shire of Macedon Ranges
State electorate(s)	Macedon
Federal Division(s)	McEwen
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 15.3 °C ^60 °F 7.1 °C ^45 °F 843.9 mm ^33.2 in
Localities around Macedon: Woodend Woodend Mount Macedon Bullengarook Macedon Mount Macedon Bullengarook Bullengarook Gisborne

Macedon /ˈmæsədən/^[2] is a town located near the Calder Freeway between Melbourne and Bendigo in the Macedon Ranges in central Victoria, Australia. It is in the local government area of the Shire of Macedon Ranges at the foot of Mount Macedon, a 1,013-metre (3,323 ft) peak to the north.

History

The Post Office opened on 15 March 1859 and was known as Black Forest until 1870.^[3] In February 1983, the Ash Wednesday fires swept through the area, destroying many houses.

As of 2009, the town is serviced by the Macedon railway station on the Bendigo railway line. Macedon has a primary school^[4] which was once attended by wartime Prime Minister of Australia, John Curtin. The town also has registered teams in cricket, Australian rules football, lawn bowls, tennis and netball.

Film and Television Industry

Macedon is often known as the town from "Picnic at Hanging Rock", the 1975 mystery movie based on the novel of the same name.

Parts of the 2009 Nicolas Cage film "Knowing" was shot around Macedon, most notably the local petrol station which was renovated to appear more like an American gas station. Most of the film was also shot nearby in Mount Macedon. The television series 'Chris Humfrey's Wild Life' was filmed in Macedon. The series aired in March 2011 on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Macedon, Vic(SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
2. Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
3. Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 2008-04-11
4. Macedon Primary School

External links