Fyansford, Victoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fyansford Geelong, Victoria
Fyansford Hotel
Fyansford Location in City of Greater Geelong
Population	196 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	3218
LGA(s)	City of Greater Geelong
State electorate(s)	Geelong Polwarth
Federal Division(s)	Corio
Suburbs around Fyansford: Batesford Stonehaven Batesford Hamlyn Heights Stonehaven Fyansford Herne Hill Barrabool Ceres Highton Newtown

Fyansford is a small town near Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It's named after Captain Foster Fyans, who was an early police officer there in 1837. The town is special because it sits where two rivers, the Barwon and Moorabool, meet. In 2016, about 196 people lived here.

Fyansford was one of the first places settled in the Geelong area. Captain Fyans set up his police camp near a shallow spot in the Moorabool River where people could cross easily. This crossing point was called a 'ford,' which is how the town got its name: Fyan's Ford.

A Look at Fyansford's Past Industries

Fyansford was once a busy place for factories and businesses in Geelong.

Early Mills and Paper Making

In 1845, the very first flour mill was built by William Henry Collins. It stood right on the banks of the Barwon River. By 1859, enough people lived in Fyansford to need a Post Office, which opened on February 1, 1859. It stayed open until 1978.

Later, in 1876, the Barwon Paper Mill started operating near Buckley Falls. This mill became part of a bigger company called Australian Paper Mills in 1895. This company is now known as Amcor Limited.

The Cement Works Story

Making Cement began in Fyansford in 1890, thanks to Peter McCann. However, it wasn't until 1911 that a modern machine called a rotary kiln was put in place. The first Australian Portland Cement factory was located at the bottom of Fyansford hill.

To help move materials, a railway line was built in 1918. It connected the factory to the North Geelong railway station. In 1926, a smaller railway, the Fyansford Cement Works Railway, was opened. This narrow-gauge railway helped serve a new quarry and the expanding cement works. The main production site, Geelong Cement, grew across Hyland Street. The cement works were later bought by Adelaide Brighton Cement, but they closed down in 2001.

Getting Around: Fyansford's Transport History

The Hamilton Highway runs right through Fyansford. Getting across the rivers has always been important for the town.

River Crossings and Bridges

The first way to cross the river at Fyansford was simply by using a shallow ford. The first wooden bridge was built further down the river in 1854. It was built by the local councils and people had to pay a toll to cross it until 1877.

By 1898, this wooden bridge was in bad shape. So, in 1900, a new bridge was built nearby. This amazing three-arch bridge was designed by John Monash and J. T. N. Anderson. It was the largest Monier reinforced concrete bridge in the world at that time! In 1970, a brand new bridge was built where the old wooden one used to be. This was to handle more cars and trucks on the Hamilton Highway. The beautiful 1900 bridge was kept for people to walk across.

Roads and Connections

High Street, which is now called Hyland Street, was one of the first roads in the area to be sealed in 1933. It was even relaid with concrete in 1937.

Another important road, Deviation Road, was built between 1931 and 1932. This work helped people who were unemployed during the Great Depression. The road opened in 1933 and was cut into the hillside. Its surface was originally made of concrete. It took 54 years after Fyansford residents first asked for such a road for it to finally be built!

Historic Places in Fyansford

Fyansford has several places that are listed as important heritage sites. These places help us remember the town's history:

• 42-52 and 100 Lower Paper Mills Rd, Barwon Paper Mill Complex
• 425-465 Hamilton Hwy, Frogmore
• 67 Hyland St, Fyansford Hotel
• Hamilton Hwy, Old Fyansford Bridge
• 150-220 McCurdy Rd, Old Geelong Orphanage Asylum and Common School
• 20-50 Hamilton Hwy, Old Swan Inn

Images for kids

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  Fyansford, 1908

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  Fyansford State School, built during the 1880s

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  Fyansford Bridge

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  Upstream from Buckley Falls on the Barwon River

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  1900 Monier arch bridge over the Moorabool River

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  Bridge over the Moorabool

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  Plaque marking opening of the 1900 bridge

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  Plaque detailing the history of the township, placed in 1988 for the Australian Bicentenary

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  Remains of the Fyansford cement works

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  Remains of the Fyansford cement works

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  Geelong Bypass crossing of the Moorabool River under construction