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Woodend
Victoria
Woodend; Victoria
	Woodend's Main Street
	Woodend
Coordinates	37°21′47″S 144°31′34″E / 37.363°S 144.526°E
Population	6,732 (2021 census)
Postcode(s)	3442
Elevation	580 m (1,903 ft)
Location	71 km (44 mi) NW of Melbourne ; 79 km (49 mi) SE of Bendigo ; 41 km (25 mi) SE of Daylesford ;
LGA(s)	Shire of Macedon Ranges
State electorate(s)	Macedon
Federal division(s)	McEwen
	Localities around Woodend:

Woodend (/wʊdˈɛnd/)^[2] is a town in Victoria, Australia. The town is in the Shire of Macedon Ranges local government area and is bypassed to the east and north by the Calder Freeway (M79), located about halfway between Melbourne and Bendigo. At the 2021 census, Woodend had a population of 6,732 and is located on the Country of the Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Peoples who are traditional custodians of this area.

History

Woodend was first surveyed in 1836 by Major Thomas Mitchell, who opened it up for settlement. When gold was discovered in the area (towards Bendigo and Ballarat), Woodend became the main thoroughfare through the Black Forest, and accommodated many gold-diggers and their families. Woodend Post Office opened on 20 July 1854; however, it closed shortly after, only to be reopened in one of the citizens' homes.^[3]

The Woodend Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1983.^[4]

Tourism and attractions

Woodend is close to such attractions as Mount Macedon and Hanging Rock located at nearby Newham, and numerous waterfalls. The area supports a large horse-racing community. Woodend's location in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range means that, unlike most of Australia, snowfalls are not uncommon.^[5] The Woodend Winter Arts Festival, held on the Queen's Birthday Weekend in June, is an event where artisans from around Australia gather to perform. The annual Melbourne Autumn Day (MAD) ride is held in Woodend by the Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club. Woodend Children's Park in the centre of the town provides a meeting place for young and old, locals and visitors: A park to explore, to enjoy, to play. Woodend Children's Park opened behind the service station in October 2009.^[6]

The largest sporting group in the town is the Woodend Junior Football Club which incorporates 190 players, from 130 families, playing in eight junior teams ranging from Under-9s to Under-16s. There are several mountain bike tracks near Woodend, in the Wombat State Forest and also on Mount Macedon. The local Wombat MTB Club maintains the tracks in the area and arrange events and bike tours. Golfers play at the course of the Woodend Golf Club on Davy Street.^[7] The Woodend tennis club on Earnshaw St has six plexipave courts and its vibrant, progressive and rapidly growing membership has become a social hub for the local community.

The oldest church in Woodend is the Anglican Church of St Mary's, a Gothic bluestone building constructed in 1864. The church's stained glass windows were produced by William Montgomery (1850–1927),^[8] former president of the Victorian Artists Society.^[9]

The events and news of the town are published in the town's community newsletter, The New Woodend Star, which publishes free archival copies of the newsletter online for reference.

A local Woodend information website is also available called Woodend Village News, this also has a local weather page, showing historical weather information. Including UV intensity, wind speed and direction, amount of rain, the maximum and minimum temperatures, along with wind chill and barometric pressure.^[10]

References

^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Woodend (Vic.)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
^ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
^ "Post Office List", Phoenix Auctions History, retrieved 22 March 2021
^ "Special Report No. 4 - Court Closures in Victoria" (PDF). Auditor-General of Victoria. 1986. p. 79. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^ Tourism Victoria (2010), Woodend, retrieved 25 July 2011
^ Woodend Children's Park website, Woodend Web, retrieved 21 June 2009
^ Golf Select, Woodend, retrieved 11 May 2009
^ Trentham, Anglican Parish of Woodend -. "Anglican Parish of Woodend - Trentham | St Mary's Woodend". woodendanglican.org.au. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
^ "Montgomery, William - Artists - Australian Art Auction Records". artrecord.com. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
^ Woodend Village, Woodend Village News, retrieved 19 August 2013