HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
Merricks was part of the
Parish of Balnarring and is believed to be named after an early cattle station
owner.
1865. First settled by
John Caldwell, who built "Koonoona", a wattle cottage. Unlike Balnarring and
Hastings, Merricks's early settlers preferred running cattle and sheep to
growing orchards.
1902. A post office
opened which was served by Cobb and Co from Crib Point; this closed in
1979.
1921. A small primary
school was opened, closing in 1951 along with several others in the region when
Red Hill Consolidated School commenced.
1962. The
Victorian Municipal Directory stated that Merricks contained "(only) a general
store and post and telegraph office".
MERRICKS
VILLAGE
This is a tiny settlement
along the Frankston-Flinders Road which has changed little over the
years from its earlier rural functions,
and many of the original settler houses still stand today. It features a newly
restored General Store (built in 927) incorporating a post office and
newsagency, The Peninsula
Quarter Horse Association's base and a chocolate factory. Also in Merricks
are the Merricks Creek
vineyard specialising in pinot noir production and Stoniers Winery
(1978) producing chardonnay and pinot noir.
Merricks is served by the 782
bus route operated by Peninsula Bus Lines between Frankston and Flinders.
MERRICKS FORESHORE AND BEACH
This is about 3 km to the south, with a Yacht Club and
a small settlement, with no business activity. Residents are serviced by the
General Store at the Village or at Balnarring Township. A Clifftop Walking Trail
above the foreshore links Balnarring Beach with Merricks Beach, offering
excellent views along the coast and across Westernport Bay.
MERRICK STATION AND RAIL TRAIL
A 6.3 km mostly tree-lined horse riding/walking trail, established by the
former Shire of Hastings in the mid-1980s along the disused Bittern-Red Hill
railway route, runs roughly east-west from Merricks Station Ground Reserve to the Red Hill station
reserve.
The site of Merricks Station is now a picnic area known as the Merricks Station Reserve,
and adjacent to an equestrian property.
Remains of the platform may be seen in the Reserve
- the old loading bay has been preserved.
