Silvan, Victoria

Silvan is a town in Victoria, Australia, located 40 km east of Melbourne. Its local government area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges, and the town marks halfway between the Belgrave and Lilydale, both large towns. At the 2016 Census, Silvan had a population of 1246.[1] The area's soils, well suited to growing fruits, vegetables and flowers, draw tourists to the various pick-yourself orchards and berry farms in Silvan. A cultivated hybrid variety of blackberry known as the silvanberry is named after the town.[2][3]

Silvan
Victoria
Silvan Reservoir from Kalorama
Population1,246 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)3795
Elevation217 m (712 ft)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Yarra Ranges
State electorate(s)Evelyn, Monbulk
Federal Division(s)Casey
Localities around Silvan:
Mount Evelyn Wandin East Seville
Olinda Silvan Yellingbo
Monbulk Monbulk Macclesfield

History

Originally known as Wandin Yallock South, the town was first surveyed in 1868.[4] The town's name was changed to Silvan in 1913, the same year the local primary school changed its name to Silvan Primary School.

In 1917, and as a result of a growing population in Melbourne's south east, the Silvan Reservoir was commissioned, with the reservoir completed in 1932.[5] A conduit from the Upper Yarra dam was completed in 1957.[6] In 1954 the first Tulip Festival was held, becoming an annual tradition continuing to this day.

Culture

Events

The town's most prominent attraction is the annual Tulip Festival, held every spring during September & October. The festival attracts over 100,000 visitors every year, and its overall success has spawned a number of flower festivals held at other times of the year.[7]

Sport

The town has an Australian Rules football team founded in 1921 which is competing in the Eastern Football Netball League since 2011. The club is known as the Silvan Cats and has won 10 senior premierships in 1930, 1934, 1955, 1959 (All in MDFA), 1992, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008 (All in YVMDFL), 2014 (EFL).

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Silvan (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  2. "Silvanberry Planting". Gardening Know How. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  3. "Berry Varieties". baag.com.au. Bulleen Art & Garden. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  4. "Victorian Places, Wandin". Victorian Places. Monash University & The University of Queensland. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  5. "Culture & Heritage of Silvan Reservoir Park". Parks Victoria. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  6. "Silvan, Victorian Places". Victorian Places. Monash University & the University of Queensland. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  7. Smith, Camille (3 April 2019). "Famous tulip festival ramps up agritourism with autumn festival". Weekly Times. Retrieved 16 July 2019.

Media related to Silvan, Victoria at Wikimedia Commons


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