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Bacchus Marsh (Postcode: 3340) is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local government area of Moorabool Shire. Bacchus Marsh is situated approximately 50 kilometres west of Melbourne, east of Ballarat and north of Geelong. It is 14 kilometres west of Melton. It has a population of approximately 14,000. It is traditionally a market garden area, producing a lot of the area's fruit and vegetables. The town was named after one of its original inhabitants, Capt. Bacchus, who saw the great value of this locality as it was situated on two rivers— the Lerdederg and Werribee.
History The town was proclaimed in 1951, when the towns of Darley and Maddingley were merged. Darley existed north of the Werribee River, and still exists as an area of Bacchus Marsh. It was surveyed and proclaimed in 1861 and was initially an agricultural settlement. Maddingley existed south of the Werribee River, and was surveyed prior to 1861. The name is still reflected in roads, such as South Maddingley Road and East Maddingley Road, as well as the Maddingley Brown Coal Open Cut Mine. Travelling from Melbourne via the Western Freeway, the town appears as one drops into the valley via Anthony's Cutting. Transport The Bacchus Marsh station is on the Ballarat line and is linked by the V/Line Regional Fast Rail project to Melbourne. A bus service connects the station with the town centre and other residential areas. The Western Freeway linking Melbourne and Ballarat bypasses through Bacchus Marsh, separating the Darley locality from the rest of town. Attractions A feature of the town is the Avenue of Honour— several kilometres of trees planted along the main road from Melbourne, to honour those who lost their lives in the Great War. One of its principal recreation areas is Maddingley Park, which is a favourite picnic destination for both locals and visitors. The other nearby feature is the small stone bridge that crosses Djerriwarrh Creek. This historic bridge was built by Irish immigrants in the 1850s to assist travel to the Ballarat goldfields. One of its builders, Richard Griffith, decided to remain in the area and his family still works the farm that surrounds the bridge reserve. Education Schools in Bacchus Marsh include: Sport Australian rules football, Cricket and Netball are all very popular in the town. Notable sporting teams include Darley Football Club and Bacchus Marsh Football Club who both compete in the Ballarat Football League. Another sport that has come popular over the years in Bacchus Marsh is the Korfball Assosiation. Notable Residents Notable people from Bacchus Marsh include: | ||||||||
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