Kinglake, Victoria

Kinglake Victoria
Main street of Kinglake prior to the bushfire of 7 February 2009
Kinglake Location in Shire of Murrindindi
Coordinates	37°31′58″S 145°20′28″E / 37.53278°S 145.34111°E / -37.53278; 145.34111Coordinates: 37°31′58″S 145°20′28″E / 37.53278°S 145.34111°E / -37.53278; 145.34111
Population	1,347 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	3763
Elevation	550 m (1,804 ft)
Location	56 km (35 mi) from Melbourne 22 km (14 mi) from Hurstbridge
LGA(s)	Shire of Murrindindi Shire of Nillumbik
State electorate(s)	Eildon
Federal Division(s)	Indi McEwen
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 16 °C 61 °F 8.2 °C 47 °F 850 mm 33.5 in
Localities around Kinglake: Kinglake Central and Pheasant Creek Glenburn Toolangi Kinglake West Kinglake Castella Strathewen and St Andrews Christmas Hills Steels Creek

Kinglake is a town in Victoria, Australia, 46 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District. Its local government areas are the Shires of Murrindindi and Nillumbik. At the 2011 Census, Kinglake had a population of 1,347.

The town was one of the worst affected during the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009.

Kinglake, comprising forest, farmland, a national park and a township, is located 57 km north east of Melbourne, in the Kinglake Ranges, part of the Great Dividing Range. The Kinglake Ranges vary in height from 525 m - 610 m above sea level. Many areas of Kinglake overlook the Melbourne skyline to the south west and the Yarra Valley wineries to the south. Kinglake is generally 3 °C colder than Metropolitan Melbourne, with the summers being very pleasant and heavy frosts and occasional snowfalls during winter.

Gold was discovered in 1861 on Mount Slide to the east of the locality at an area which became known as Mountain Rush. A Mountain Rush Post Office opened on 7 May 1862, but closed in January 1863 as the miners moved to other locations.

Kinglake township was established much later and was named after British historian Alexander William Kinglake, whose eight-volume history of the Crimean War had recently been completed.

Kinglake Post Office opened on 14 May 1883. There was also an office at Kinglake East open from 1914 until 1950.

Education options that are available to Kinglake residents include the state secondary schools Whittlesea Secondary College and Yea High School. Private secondary schools are also available via numerous bus services that service the township. Primary schools include Kinglake Primary, Middle Kinglake and Kinglake West Primary.