Ferny Creek Victoria 3786

Ferny Creek, Victoria, 3786

FERNY CREEK STATISTICS

01.

Population

The population of Ferny Creek from the 2016 Census was 1518

02.

Median

The median house price for Ferny Creek  in November 2021 was $1,100,000

03.

Highest

In 2011, the highest price achieved for a home in Ferny Creek was $1,650,000

In 2021, the highest price achieved for a home in Ferny Creek  was $2,950,000

04.

Lowest

In 2011, the lowest price achieved for a home in Ferny Creek was $355,000

In 2021, the lowest price achieved for a home in Ferny Creek was $630,000

All statistics and numbers were obtained using Corelogic

FERNY CREEK VICTORIA 3786

Anzac Avenue
The Opening of Anzac Avenue in 1920

As a township, Ferny Creek is quite spread out and if you want to find some of the local hidden services then you generally will need to go off the main Rd.

Ferny Creek was a popular place for holiday makers from Melbourne being only a short trip UP the hill from the train station. There are some beautiful old homes in the area, many with wide vistas covering both Port Phillip and Westernport bays and the occasional home also has views of Cardinia Dam and Lysterfield Lake. 

Referred to as ‘foggy creek’ by cheeky locals that live elsewhere on the Hill, it is definitely an area worth exploring. 

EARLY MEMORIES

My first memory of Ferny Creek was attending a Masonic Lodge Christmas picnic at the Ferny Creek Recreation Reserve when my dad was Master of the Lodge. 

From then, Ferny Creek took on greater significance. Ferny Creek was home to Brownies, then Guides then Ranger Guides. It was bushdances at the Rec Hall followed in later years by weddings, birthdays and funeral services. This Hall echoes with memories.

(note: Brownies are no longer called Brownies and are now Guides)

Adjoining the Scout Hall is the Sassafras Ferny Creek CFA, Ferny Creek Recreation Ground, the Ferny Creek Hall, the Ferny Creek Tennis Club and the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society.

The CFA welcomes new members. The job they do is year round, with training and getting prepared for Summer. There are many volunteer opportunities within the CFA, they play a vital role in the Hills Community. 

PLACES OF FERNY CREEK

FERNY CREEK PRIMARY SCHOOL

The original Scout Hall in Ferny Creek
Ferny Creek Scout Hall

Ferny Creek Primary was one of four mountain schools that participated in School Sports (Mt Dandenong, Olinda and Sassafras were the others).

Back then the Primary School was on the other side of School Rd. A small block that lacked expansion space and at some stage Ferny Creek Primary moved into new school buildings across the road.

The local Sassafras Ferny Creek CFA website refers to a fire in the old school in 1983 that destroyed the school. 

SASSAFRAS/FERNY CREEK CFA

Sassafras Ferny Creek CFA
The newer Sassafras Ferny Creek CFA

The Sassafras Ferny Creek CFA has a great website. It is informative and includes much of the local history about fires.

The original fire station opened in 1953 with their first fire truck bought in 1954.

This is the new fire station, the old, old one was flattened by a gum tree in 1974, replaced in 1975 and this one was built in 2002.

GUIDES & SCOUTS

The original Scout Hall in Ferny Creek
Ferny Creek Scout Hall

Brownies and Guides along with netball at Olinda laid the foundations of friendships and getting to know other local girls. Our Primary Schools were small and it widened our circles before we went to high school. 

Learning the creeds and all the requirements to accumulate as many badges as possible, the ceremonies – turning around and looking in a mirror (something about looking in the mirror and seeing oneself? The person in the mirror is responsible for their actions kind of thing) The Brownie Guide Promise – “I promise that I will do my best, to be true to myself and develop my beliefs, to serve the Queen and my community, to help other people and to keep the (Brownie) Guide Law.”

I learned about Camping – the old fashioned way with canvas, ridge poles and guy ropes. Digging latrines, campfires, it always seemed to be hot during the day and freezing at night. .

Lighting a fire with one match in winter down Colehurst Crescent. No mean feat!

I was always a bit envious of the Scouts as their activities seemed so much more fun but girls weren’t allowed to join at that point. 

Nonetheless, the Ferny Creek Scout Hall has some great memories for me.

Cubs, Scouts and Venturers operate from the Hall

FERNY CREEK RECREATION RESERVE

Ferny Creek Recreation Reserve Hall
Ferny Creek Recreation Reserve Hall

The Ferny Creek Recreation Hall and Reserve are a bit of a hidden jewel.

The Reserve is an open plot of land and the Hall part of the fabric of Hills history. There have been so many events held here including Bush Dances, Funerals, Weddings and birthday celebrations.

This is a beautiful building, gorgeous old floorboards and wide, open space with exposed rafters. There is a huge kitchen, serving area and toilets.

As part of the Reserve there is a smaller log cabin that may also be hired. This building is of high local significance.

FERNY CREEK TENNIS CLUB

Ferny Creek Tennis Club
Ferny Creek Tennis Club courts

The tennis club has a number of courts and welcomes new members.

An active club offering both social and competition tennis

https://play.tennis.com.au/fernycreektennisclub

FERNY CREEK RECREATION RESERVE PLAYGROUND

Ferny Creek playground
Ferny Creek Recreation Reserve playground

This is a gorgeous playground, it’s fenced to prevent escapee children and runs alongside both the Recreation Reserve, Hall and tennis club.

ONE TREE HILL

Further away but still in Ferny Creek is One Tree Hill Lookout. An early warning tower for bushfire threat. It’s well worth a visit. Not for the tower but for the War Memorials. The 1000 steps and the Kokoda Trail end at One Tree Hill thus the Memorials.

Locals know that rather join the masses at the Dandenong Ranges National Park in Upper Ferntree Gully you can easily park at One Tree Hill and go down the steps before turning around and slogging it back up.

ANZAC WAR MEMORIAL

War Memorial and bus shelter Ferny Creek
Anzac War Memorial, Anzac Avenue Ferny Creek

One edge of Sherbrooke Forest begins in Ferny Creek.

The home of a War Memorial designed to provide shelter as well as commemoration.

This section of the Forest once also had a sawmill long since gone. It’s the path well trod by years of girl guides and I assume scouts exploring and now tourists. 

FERNY CREEK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Ferny Creek Horticultural Society Entry
The Entry gates to the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society

The Ferny Creek Horticultural Society holds events during the year and also sells rare plants.

The knowledge of it members is staggering. Local homes were often planted out with these rare plants, their gardens renowned.

I remember selling a house in Sassafras that had rhododendrons developed and then named after family members.