Sassafras, Victoria
| Sassafras Melbourne, Victoria | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sassafras township | |||||||||||||
  Sassafras | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 37°52′12″S 145°21′14″E / 37.87000°S 145.35389°ECoordinates: 37°52′12″S 145°21′14″E / 37.87000°S 145.35389°E | ||||||||||||
| Population | 968 (2006 census)[1] | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 293/km2 (760/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3787 | ||||||||||||
| Area | 3.3 km2 (1.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Yarra Ranges | ||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Monbulk | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | La Trobe | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Sassafras is a locality and township within Greater Melbourne beyond the Melbourne metropolitan area Urban Growth Boundary,[2] 43 km east of Melbourne's central business district. Its local government area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges. At the 2006 Census, Sassafras had a population of 968. It is located at an altitude of approximately 500 metres, near the top of the ridgeline of the Dandenong Ranges, a few kilometres south of the highest peak of Mount Dandenong.
The area was named Sassafras Gully, after the trees which grew in the area. The land was opened to small scale farming in 1893 and a small township developed. The Post Office opened on 1 June 1901 and has always been known as Sassafras Gully.[3] In the early 1900s tourism began to increase and the township consequently grew. Today Sassafras is a tourist destination with several boutique stores including Devonshire tea outlets, antique shops and nurseries.
The area has had a history of bushfires, and areas near the town are known to have been burned out since the 1850s.[4]
Waterways
Sassafras is between the Yarra River Catchment and the Dandenong Creek. Sassafras creek is located to the east of the township while tributaries of the Dandenong Creek are West and North of the township. Both creeks provide important corridors which are both largely protect by parklands.
Sassafras Creek flows into Woori-Yallock Creek which eventually flows into the Yarra River next to the Warramate Nature Conservation Reserve. Sassafras Creek's Riparian Zone is almost entirely protected by public land, which in this case is Dandenong Ranges National Park.
Dandenong Creek flows straight into Port Phillip Bay at Patterson Lakes. But can be known as Patternson River near the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. Dandenong Creek has been channelled for several kilometers towards its mouth.
Natural environment
Sassafras has many exotic flora largely due to the fertile volcanic soils. Most private land contains exotic flora.
References
- ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Sassafras (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
- ↑ Urban Growth Boundary map
- ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 2008-04-11
- ↑ Wildfire History in the Dandenong Ranges, Olinda Rural Volunteer Fire Brigade (accessed 18 January 2008)