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.

History

Originally called Queenstown, the area was surveyed in 1858 and proclaimed a town on 25 February 1861. Located between Panton Hill and Kinglake, by 1865 it was also known as St Andrews, and the presence of large numbers of Scottish miners gave rise to the town being called both ‘Caledonia’ and ‘St Andrews’.

It experienced population growth during the Victorian gold rush, when prospectors mined the hills around the town. St Andrews was the earliest goldfield in the area and by 1855 there were 3000 miners. Its progression toward the town centre was halted by a southerly wind change,

Notable residents

  • Ross Noble
  • Reg Evans

See also

  • Shire of Eltham – St Andrews was previously within this former local government area.

References

  • St Andrews Queenstown Historical Society
  • Victoria's wealthiest town? St Andrews remains rich in community spirit
  • St Andrews the highest earning postcode in Victoria, beating Toorak and Portsea
  • St Andrews Community Market