Highton, Victoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Highton Geelong, Victoria
Belle Vue Avenue
Highton Location in City of Greater Geelong
Population	17,793 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	3216
LGA(s)	City of Greater Geelong
State electorate(s)	Geelong South Barwon
Federal Division(s)	Corangamite Corio
Suburbs around Highton: Fyansford Fyansford and Newtown Newtown Ceres and Wandana Heights Highton Belmont Waurn Ponds Grovedale Belmont

Highton is a suburb in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It's a great place to live with nice views of Geelong and Corio Bay. Highton is located along the Barwon River and sits on the rolling Barrabool Hills.

The Barwon River is on Highton's north and east sides. To the west are the hilly areas of Ceres and Wandana Heights. Kardinia Creek (now underground) separates Highton from Belmont to the south-east. The Princes Highway and Pigdons Road are to the south, separating it from Waurn Ponds.

History of Highton

In 1834, a farmer named John Highett built his house on a hill overlooking the Barwon River. His wife and daughter joined him two years later. Later, his land became the Montpellier vineyard, hotel, and picnic spot. Highton was named after a shorter version of his name.

Today, parks, water reservoirs, and a school in Highton still use the Montpellier name. You can even find the ruins of the original property in Montpellier Park.

By the mid-1860s, the area had grown a lot. It had a hotel, a post office (opened in 1864), and about 300 people living there. For many years, growing grapes, fruit, and farming were the main activities. Between 1927 and 1933, two large orphanages and the Glastonbury children's home opened in Highton.

After World War II, in the 1950s, more homes were built in Highton. People liked the scenic hills overlooking the Barwon River valley. The Highton shopping centre on Belle Vue Avenue was built in the mid-1960s. The Highton Post Office moved there in 1965, and a Highton South office opened that same year.

Kardinia Creek, which separated Highton from Belmont, was put underground. More homes continued to be built towards the south. By the 1990s, houses had reached the Glastonbury Drive area. Recently, many new homes have been built north of Barrabool Road and west of Scenic Road, making Highton's population much larger.

Education in Highton

Highton has three public primary schools:

• Highton Primary School was the first school in the area, opening in 1854.
• Bellaire Primary School opened in 1963.
• Montpellier Primary School opened in 1969.

Belmont High School is the only public high school in the area. It opened in 1945 and is still open today.

Christian College is a private Christian school. It opened in 1980 in what used to be the St Augustine's orphanage. It offers both primary and secondary education. From 1962 to 1998, Geelong Grammar School had a campus in Highton. This campus is now part of Christian College, which has three campuses in the suburb.

Highton is also very close to Deakin University's Waurn Ponds campus. Many university students live in the southern part of Highton.

Healthcare Services

Highton has several medical clinics and pharmacies. Epworth HealthCare runs a private hospital on Pigdons Road in Waurn Ponds. This hospital is right across the road from many Highton residents. The closest public hospital, University Hospital Geelong, is in Geelong's city centre.

Shopping in Highton

Highton has two main shopping areas:

• Highton Village is a smaller shopping street on Belle Vue Avenue. It has unique shops and a supermarket.
• Barrabool Hills Plaza opened in 2016 on Provence Blvd. It has a Woolworths Supermarket and other small shops.

There is also another small group of shops on Porter Avenue. These include a bakery, a post office, and small cafes.

Sports and Recreation

The Barwon River is a popular place for running, walking, and bike riding. There are tracks along the river for these activities. Many people start their activities near Queens Park.

Highton Reserve is where the Geelong Falcons football team trains. They play in the AFL under 18 TAC League.

Queens Park has a golf course called the Queens Park Public Golf Course. It is also home to the Geelong Amateur Football & Netball Club and the Newtown and Chilwell Cricket Club.

Near Highton Village, there is a sports area that hosts the Geelong Falcons. This area is also home to the Highton Tennis Club and the Highton Bowls Club.

On the border between Highton and Belmont, there is another sports field. This field is home to the South Barwon Football and Netball Club.

Transport Links

Highton is connected to the centre of Geelong by roads like Barrabool Road, Shannon Avenue, and the Princes Highway. If you want to travel to Melbourne, you can use the Geelong Ring Road, which passes west of Highton.

Public transport in Highton is provided by buses. These buses are run by McHarry's Buslines and CDC Geelong. They operate under a contract with Public Transport Victoria. Two bus routes go from Geelong railway station to Deakin University at Waurn Ponds, passing through Geelong's city centre.

• Route 42 serves the southern part of Highton. It also goes through Belmont and Grovedale.
• Route 43 serves the northern part of Highton. It also goes through Newtown.

Trams used to run on the edges of Highton until 1956. That's when Geelong trams were replaced by buses.

Notable People from Highton

Some well-known people who have lived in Highton include:

• Greg Stewart, an Australian champion in triathlon and duathlon.
• Rasmus Williams, an Australian junior weightlifting champion.