Garfield, Victoria

The area was originally called Cannibal Creek, but was renamed to Garfield in memory of the U.S. President James A. Garfield.{{cite web |url=http://www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/files/Strategic_planning/SP_GarfieldTownshipStrategy_2002-08-19.pdf |title=Garfield Township Strategy |publisher=Cardinia Shire Council |date=19 August 2002 |page=36 |access-date=24 January 2012 |quote=Originally Cannibal Creek Siding was built in 1877 to serve the booming timber industry when the railway line was laid from Dandenong to Bunyip. The district was latter [sic] renamed Garfield after an American President. |format=PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401082257/http://www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/files/Strategic_planning/SP_GarfieldTownshipStrategy_2002-08-19.pdf |archive-date=1 April 2012 }}

The Post Office opened as Cannibal Creek on 1 May 1886 and was renamed Garfield in 1887,{{Citation| last = Phoenix Auctions History | title = Post Office List | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=*Garfield* | access-date = 22 February 2021 }} though this had not been the first choice of the local community.{{Cite web |url=https://anguskidman.show/2024/07/04/garfield-railway-station-name/ |title=How did Garfield railway station get its name? |date=July 4, 2024 |access-date=July 6, 2024 }}

Garfield has a primary school with approximately 150 students. There is a church at the top end of the schoolgrounds. Local businesses include a newsagency, a sourdough bakery, women’s clothing shop, an opportunity shop, gifts and homewares shop, butcher, hairdressers, and several cafes.

It is also home to the Garfield Picture Theatre, Cardinia Shire’s first cinema in the region. The theatre was built in 1924, and was the town’s first source of electricity. Today, it’s one of the few picture theatre buildings remaining in the shire and hosts monthly concerts. {{Citation| last = Garfield Picture Theatre | title = Garfield Picture Theatre | url = https://www.garfieldpicturetheatre.com.au/history | access-date = 22 May 2024 }}

The town has an Australian Rules football team playing in the Ellinbank and District Football League.{{Citation|last=Full Points Footy |title=Garfield |url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Garfield.htm |access-date=2008-07-25 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430064149/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/garfield.htm |archive-date=30 April 2008 }} Garfield has an undulating golf course on Thirteen Mile Road run by the Garfield Golf Club.{{Citation | author= Golf Select | title = Garfield | url = http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=975 | access-date = 2009-05-11 }}

As at 2021, the population of Garfield was 2,114 (50.6% male, 49.4% female). The median age was 39. {{Citation | author= ABS | title = 2021 Census Garfield | url = https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/SAL20966 }}

Garfield hosts two annual community festivals: the [https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067946705887 Garfield Christmas Festival] in December, and the [https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088421423765 West Gippsland Railtowns Food and Wine Festival] in March. Both events bring thousands of visitors to the town to enjoy local food and entertainment.

Image:Main_Street_Garfield_Victoria_-2-_070610.JPG|Main street

Image:Main_Street_Garfield_Victoria_-Iona_Hotel-_070610.JPG|Iona Hotel

• Shire of Pakenham – Garfield was previously within this former local government area.
• Garfield railway station

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Category:Towns in Victoria (state)

Category:Shire of Cardinia

Category:Australian places named after U.S. places or U.S. history