Panton Hill, Victoria

The Shire of Nillumbik ( NILL-əm-bik) is a local government area in Victoria, Australia. It contains outer northern suburbs of Melbourne and rural localities beyond the urban area. It has an area of 432 square kilometres and at the 2021 census, the Shire had a population of 62,895. It was formed in 1994 from the merger of parts of the Shires of Eltham, Diamond Valley, Healesville and the City of Whittlesea. The Shire uses the tag-line The Green Wedge Shire. The Nillumbik Council offices are located in Civic Drive, Greensborough.The shire's name is derived from the Parish of Nillumbik, which was named in the 1830s the term nyilum bik meaning "Bad Earth" in the local Aboriginal language Woiwurrung.On 13 October 1998, Nillumbik Council was suspended by then Local Government minister Rob Maclellan, with the state government declaring that infighting was affecting the ability of the council to function.Nillumbik was rated third of 590 Australian local government areas in the BankWest Quality of Life Index 2008.

Cottles Bridge is a town in Victoria, Australia, 30 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Nillumbik local government area. Cottles Bridge recorded a population of 609 at the 2021 census.

Smiths Gully is a town in Victoria, Australia, 35 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Nillumbik local government area. Smiths Gully recorded a population of 356 at the 2021 census.Smith Gully Road Post Office opened in 1902, was renamed Smith Gully in 1964 and Smiths Gully later that year. The Post Office continues to operate at the general store on the Kangaroo Ground – St Andrews Road.Primary schools operated in Smiths Gully during 1867-84 and in 1886.The 1860s Queenstown Cemetery is a rare example of a private burial ground established by district's early settlers and is also a resting place of several prominent local citizens. The Cemetery is 1 km east of the Smiths Gully Store.

Watsons Creek is a bounded locality in Victoria, Australia, 31 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Nillumbik local government area. Watsons Creek recorded a population of 58 at the 2021 census. Watsons Creek lies to the north and west of Eltham-Yarra Glen Road.

Hurstbridge is a suburb in Melbourne, Australia, 28 km north-east of the Central Business District, located within the Shire of Nillumbik local government area. Hurstbridge recorded a population of 3,554 at the 2021 census.Hurstbridge lies between Wattle Glen to the south, Arthur's Creek to the north, and Panton Hill to the east.

Hurstbridge railway station is the terminus of the suburban electrified Hurstbridge line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the north-eastern Melbourne suburb of Hurstbridge, and opened on 25 June 1912 as Hurst's Bridge. It was renamed Hurstbridge on 9 December of that year.

Kangaroo Ground War Memorial Park is located at 385 Eltham Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground in the Shire of Nillumbik. in Victoria, Australia. The site includes the war memorial, with a firespotting cabin, mature monterey cypress trees and other planted species, and a sandstone caretaker's cottage. The park is situated on the summit of Garden Hill, from which panoramic views are obtainable. The park is situated on two acres.Towards the end of World War One, in August 1918, Eltham Shire Council discussed and 'generally expressed themselves as favourable to the proposal' to obtain a "piece of land on the summit of Garden Hill, Kangaroo Ground, and the formation of a memorial park in which a monument could be erected to represent the whole of the Shire. Local resident Walter Wippell donated £50 and with it Council purchased the one-acre site. In 1919 Joseph Mess agreed to take £50 per acre for two acres of his Garden Hill property. By 1920 subscriptions lists were opened for the purposes of raising funds to "carry out the proposed scheme of beautification, and also to erect, at a later date, a fitting monument to perpetuate the memory of those who fell in the Great War'. Working bees took place on the site and rocks were collected for a memorial cairn which was built in a slight depression which signified the highest point in the park. The compilation of "a complete record of the names of all persons who enlised for service from the Shire and of those who made the supreme sacrifice whilst doing their duty" began in 1920. The park was officially opened by Mr. W. H. Everard, M.L.A. on 3 September 1921. In 1927 a stone hut, known as the caretaker's cottage was built from left over stone quarried for the tower. On Remembrance Day, 2005 a seedling, a descendant of the Gallipoli lone pine tree was planted. Brick toilets constructed in 1965 were also removed and replaced in 2005 including a universal access space.In 2006, a plaque was put in place from the Vietnam Veterans community in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. Nillumbik Shire Council received funding under the 2008–09 Restoring Community War Memorials Grants program to restore plaques on the Tower, and replace bollards to enhance security around the memorial. In December 2014, Nillumbik Shire Council received Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program funding to create new interpretative signage.In 2015 Shire of Nillumbik added the Tower of Remembrance and War Memorial Park and Moor-ul Viewing Platform to its draft register of memorials. In 2020 Shire of Nillumbik commenced preparing a master plan to create a long-term vision and plan for the park.

St Andrews is a town in Victoria, Australia, 52 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Nillumbik local government area. St Andrews recorded a population of 1,186 at the 2021 census.St Andrews is well known for its alternative market, which is open every Saturday from 8am to 2pm it is closed on total fire ban days however. It also contains a hotel, primary school, bakery, CFA, general store and the Wadambuk community centre where a mobile library managed by Yarra Plenty Regional Library has a regular scheduled stop.

Wattle Glen is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Nillumbik local government area. Wattle Glen recorded a population of 1,911 at the 2021 census.The nearest public libraries are Diamond Valley Library and Eltham Library and the mobile library which stops at Hurstbridge operated by Yarra Plenty Regional Library.

Wattle Glen railway station is located on the Hurstbridge line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the north-eastern Melbourne suburb of Wattle Glen, and opened on 25 June 1912 as Balee. It was renamed Wattleglen on 14 August 1922. However, currently the station is signed and commonly known as Wattle Glen (two words).

Bend of Islands is a rural locality in Victoria, Australia, 30 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Nillumbik local government area. Bend of Islands recorded a population of 267 at the 2021 census. It is situated on about 635 hectares and is named after a group of small islands at a bend of the Yarra River near Watsons Creek. It is located near the town of Kangaroo Ground. The location was a favourite spot for local anglers in 1939. About 130 allotments range from a half to 12 hectares. Exotic animals, including cats and dogs and vegetation are banned to minimise the spread of weeds, damage to the soil and harm to native fauna.It was gazetted in 2000 after a petition from local residents, having previously been part of Christmas Hills and Kangaroo Ground. Jessie and Edward Haughton built Three Bears Cottage which is considered significant as the last built connection with the regionally significant family who were instrumental in shaping the local landscape and subsequent bush lifestyle from the 1930s. The Haughton's used to have swimming parties in the swimming pool on the bend in the river. Other significant residents of Bend of Islands in the 1970s included Neil Douglas and Helen (Abbie) Heathcote whose house at 512 Henley Road is included on the Victorian Heritage Database. Artist and naturalist Neil Douglas and others purchased properties following bushfires in 1962 and further established the area for residents.The Burns House, known as Kangaroo, was designed by architect and artist Peter Burns and was built in stages from 1968 on an elevated sloping bush land site. It is considered of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.The area has been under threat a number of times including in 1980 when the Government of Victoria considered buying it as part of a conservation area while bulldozers began clearing natural bushland at the same time.The Bend of Islands incorporates the area of the former Environmental Living Zone, now known as Special Use Zone (SUZ) - Environmental Living in the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. The Bend of Islands Conservation Association (BICA) was formed in the 1960s.Residents Neil Douglas and Abbie Heathcote used to open their home to exhibit their art. This practice became the foundation for the Nillumbik Artists Open studios program. Local artists continue to be part of the program. The Bend of Island Community members, or 'benders', are a thriving and connected community with monthly coffee mornings at the local fire station, weekly BICA events such as bird or flora walks, and a large artistic community. A mobile library service visits nearby Kangaroo Ground which is managed by Yarra Plenty Regional Library.

Nutfield is a locality in Victoria, Australia, 30 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Nillumbik local government area. Nutfield recorded a population of 158 at the 2021 census.