Kilsyth

Kilsyth, 32km east of Melbourne, is a small residential precinct in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. The original township grew up around regional orchards in the early part of the 20th century, but by the 1950s weekend retreats were rising on the Kilsyth hillsides.

Over the last 30 years, however, more and more city commuters have chosen to make their homes in the township which now has a population of about 10,500. The town is supported by six schools, a large shopping centre and community facilities.

The community is well served with sporting facilities and recreation reserves including the Elizabeth Bridge Reserve which embraces a lake and community house.

A pleasant drive east on the Mt Dandenong Tourist Road takes you to Kalorama and the Yarra Shire Council"s Karwarra Australian Plant Garden. Slightly more than half of the 2ha reserve is made up of landscaped gardens, while the rest conserves native grasses, herbs and trees including stringybark, narrow leaf peppermint, mountain grey gum and blackwood wattle.