Ceres, Victoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ceres Geelong, Victoria
Historic stone house at Ceres
Ceres Location in City of Greater Geelong
Population	254 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	3221
LGA(s)	City of Greater Geelong
State electorate(s)	South Barwon
Federal Division(s)	Corangamite
Suburbs around Ceres: Stonehaven Fyansford Fyansford Barrabool Ceres Wandana Heights and Highton Barrabool Waurn Ponds Waurn Ponds

Ceres is a small place near Geelong, in Victoria, Australia. It's known for being one of the highest spots in Geelong, offering great views of the city. In 2016, about 254 people lived in Ceres.

Discovering Ceres' Past

Ceres has a long and interesting history. It started as a farming area.

Early Days and Settlement

People first settled in the Ceres area in the late 1830s. These early settlers were called "squatters." They lived on the land before it was officially sold. The land in the Barrabool Parish was sold on February 5, 1840. Many people wanted to buy land in the Barrabool Hills.

David Fisher owned a large area called "Roslin." In 1850, he decided to sell part of his land. He created a new village called Ceres. The town was likely named after Ceres, the Roman goddess of farming. It might also be named after a village called Ceres in Scotland.

Growing the Community: Early Businesses

The first business in Ceres was the Wheat Sheaf Inn. It opened in September 1850. This inn became a popular meeting spot for the Barrabool district. Another hotel, the Rising Sun, opened in 1853. The Post Office started on February 14, 1856.

By 1856, Ceres had many businesses. There was a vineyard, a blacksmith, a doctor, a store, and a shoemaker. It also had a butcher and two hotels. People even tried to find coal here in 1842, but not enough was found. In 1855, the community decided to build a cemetery. This cemetery is now the Highton Cemetery.

Schools and Meeting Places

A Wesleyan church and school opened in Ceres in 1865. This school later became the first Ceres State School. In 1875, it joined with another school. The new school was first called Barrabool. In 1890, it was renamed the Ceres State School.

In 1855, the Ceres Literary Association started. They began building a mechanics' institute. This was a place for people to learn and meet. In 1861, a group called the Ceres Total Abstinence society built their own hall. This building is still standing today. It is now home to the Theatre of the Winged Unicorn. A third hotel, the Barrabool Inn, was built in 1861.

Former Temperance Hall, now
Theatre of the Winged Unicorn

Changes Over Time

Ceres grew until the 1890s, but then it started to change. The Wheat Sheaf Inn and the Rising Sun hotels closed in the 1870s. Most of the Wheat Sheaf Inn was taken down. The Rising Sun was completely demolished. The Barrabool Inn closed in 1909. It became a private house and was later demolished. The Ceres Post Office closed in 1962.

Ceres Today

Ceres has grown since the early 2000s. It still feels like a quiet country town. You can see old gas lights on the main street. These lights now use electricity. Many old stone houses are in the town and nearby hills. They are built from local Barrabool sandstone.

Community and Activities

Ceres Primary School is still open. It started in 1875 and had 86 students in 2013. The Uniting Church holds services every month. They share services with churches in Barrabool and Moriac.

The town is home to the Theatre of the Winged Unicorn. This theatre group performs in the old Temperance Hall. Ceres also has the Barrabool Rural Fire Brigade. They are located on Wheatsheaf Street.

The Barrabool Cricket Club is based in Ceres. They have several teams for men, women, and juniors. They play in local cricket leagues.

Wesleyan Chapel built 1853

Local Media

A special dance radio station, Kiss FM, broadcasts to Ceres. You can listen to it on 87.8 FM.

Famous Faces from Ceres

Taylor Henderson, a singer and songwriter, is from Ceres. He became famous in 2013. He was the runner-up on the TV show The X Factor Australia.