Fish Creek, Victoria

Fish Creek was first settled in 1886 when land was selected and cleared in the densely forested region, soon after, dairy cattle began grazing. The Post Office opened on 6 October 1890{{Citation | last = Phoenix Auctions History | title = Post Office List | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=*Fish*Creek* | access-date = 1 March 2021 }} next to the proposed railway which arrived in 1892. In 1900 a community hall was built where the Butter Factory building stands today. This hall was used as a church by everyone until in 1904 when a new Catholic church was built. {{Citation needed|date=December 2016}} Not long after that the Union Church was opened and since then the town has had two churches. Also in 1900, a creamery was established as a cooperative of the growing number of dairy farmers in the region, this soon became the Fish Creek Butter Factory. Pigs were commonly raised alongside dairy and sold to a bacon factory at Dandenong.

After World War I, around 50 veterans were allotted land around Fish Creek as part of the Federal Government's Soldier Settlement Scheme, however most were unable to make a success of farming. In the 1920s and '30s, Fish Creek saw a large influx of Italian immigrants who settled in the region permanently.

In 1939, the iconic Fish Creek Hotel was built to replace the timber building that had burnt down that January. Despite the shortage of building materials as Australia prepared for war, the building was finished by October.{{Cite web |title=Fish Creek Hotel - HISTORY |url=https://fishcreekhotel.com.au/index.php/history |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=fishcreekhotel.com.au}}

By the 1950s many Dutch farmers had settled in Fish Creek.{{Cite web |last=Henwood |first=Emily |title=Spotlight on Fish Creek |url=https://www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/info/20001/planning_and_building/345/spotlight_on_fish_creek/2 |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au |language=en}}

In 1967, the Fish Creek butter factory closed down as milk was taken from farms by bulk tanker to larger factories, mainly the Murray Goulburn factory in Leongatha.

The Great South Gippsland Railway line closed to passengers in 1993 for all stations past Leongatha. However freight and goods traffic continued until the line was formally closed in 1994. The tracks were removed and a combined bike, pedestrian and horse riding track, known as The Great Southern Rail Trail, was established along the former rail line.{{Cite web |title=Great Southern Rail Trail |url=https://www.gsrt.com.au/history |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=greatsouthernrt |language=en}}

The Fish Creek Memorial Hall was built in 1930.{{Citation | title = Fish Creek Memorial Hall | last = Victorian Heritage Database | url = http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/125659 | access-date = 2017-10-30 }} The hall is used as a venue for parties, funerals, church services, film screenings, markets and school concerts. The hall also houses an Op shop, and its profits partially fund the maintenance and enhancement of the hall facilities.

The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Mid Gippsland Football League.{{Cite news |date=2020-08-25 |title=Alberton Football Netball League clubs accepted into Mid Gippsland competition |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-25/mid-gippsland-football-netball-league-ends-uncertainty/12592520 |access-date=2022-04-07}} The Fish Creek Football Netball Club (Kangaroos) are based at Terrill Park, the club rooms are one of the very few club rooms that are privately owned. The club is over 130 years old and has had a few players who have gone on to play AFL.{{Citation | last = Full Points Footy | title = Fish Creek | url = http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Fish_Creek.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080416224059/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/fish_creek.htm | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 16 April 2008 | access-date = 2008-07-25 }}

Fish Creek FC won the 1913{{cite web |title=1913 - Football: Country Matches - Yarrum |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7277775 |publisher=The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) |access-date=12 February 2025 |page=7 |date=11 September 1913}} and 1919{{cite web |title=1919 - Football: Country Games - Foster |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4680417 |publisher=The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) |access-date=12 February 2025 |page=9 |date=1 October 1919}} South Gippsland Shire Football Association premiership.

The town is home to the Big Mullet which lies on its side atop the Fish Creek Hotel.Famous fish to ‘swim’ again by Jacob De Kunder, The Great Southern Star, August 20, 2013: http://thestar.com.au/?p=8202

{{Wikivoyage|Fish Creek (Victoria)}}

• Fish Creek railway station
• Great Southern Rail Trail

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060829071651/http://www2.visitvictoria.com/displayObject.cfm/ObjectID.000F1B56-B1A4-1E52-82E080C476A90000/vvt.vhtml Visit Victoria tourism website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060824174506/http://www.promcountry.com.au/fish_creek.htm Prom Country tourism website]

Image:Fish Creek Flying Cow Cafe Stevage.jpg

Image:Fish Creek service station Stevage.jpg

{{Towns in South Gippsland Shire}}

{{Towns in South Gippsland}}

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Category:Towns in Victoria (state)

Category:Shire of South Gippsland