Marysville is a small town located in the Shire of Murrindindi in Victoria. Marysville has always been well known for its beautiful gardens and landcapes. Beautiful flowers adorn the cottages and gardens in the spring, including dogwood, azaleas and rhododendrons. The main street in town is lined with oak trees that are centuries old. Creeks, rivers, lush forests, and exotic trees can be found in this area and add to the beauty of the landscape. Durign the winter, Marysville is covered in a white blanket of snow and is a popular winter playground for locals and visitors as it is near Melbourne’s closest ski fields.
Marysville was named after Mary Steavenson, the wife of the Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson, after whom the Steavenson Falls are named. The town was first surveyed in 1864 and at that time had only one store and a butcher’s shop. Marysville was first established as a stopping point on the Yarra Track, the former name of the gold fields road from Healesville to the Woods Point Goldfields. By 1865, the Marysville Post Office had opened, followed by a school, public hall, library and mechanics institute over the next 30 years. Growth in Marysville progressed slowly, however, by the 1920′s, the area had become a popular tourist destination. The beautiful views, fern gullies, and Steavenson Falls attracted many people to the town of Marysville and was particularly popular with couples on their honeymoon.
Tragedy struck on On 7 February 2009, when a bushfire destroyed most of the town. The primary school, police station, and almost all of the town’s houses were destroyed. It was closed off and declared as a crime scene for quite some time in order to allow for investigations and recovery efforts. The town of Marysville just reopened to the public this year and has begun the daunting task of rebuilding. Cafes, art galleries, restaurants, and craft shops were all lost in the fire, but many have begun to return and rebuild their businesses.
Although this once prosperous town has dealt with devastation and loss, it is still not to be overlooked and continues to be one of the most beautiful places in Australia. It will again embody it’s former beauty and attraction to tourists. Having been reopened to the general public, don’t forget Marysville when planning your next holiday.