50 Years at Tyabb
The greater area encompassing Tyabb, Hastings and Somerville were originally settled as cattle runs, the first Carrup Carrup taken out in 1840 and the second Bunguyan, in 1845. Surveys were carried out in 1859, resulting in the formation of the various parishes, one becoming the Parish of Tyabb.
Tyabb was gazetted in 1861, but not where the present town stands. Originally, it was located in an area known as Old Tyabb, more of a small fishing village and within the current town precincts of Hastings. Remnants of the Old Tyabb can be seen at the Tyabb (Hastings) Cemetary. The name Tyabb is believed to have its origin in an Aboriginal word meaning Tea Tree.
The early settlers planted orchards and established nurseries, creating one of the most important fruit growing areas in Australia.
With the coming of the railway in 1889 the various townships developed along its route; the Somerville Mechanics Institute in 1891 and the Somerville Hall in 1901.
The first school was opened in Somerville in 1864. It was located on Lower Somerville Road in a building that served both as the school and the church. State School number 2656 was constructed on Lower Somerville Road in 1885, being replaced in 1914 on a site one mile to the West in Eramosa Road East because the township had developed around the railway line.
The first Tyabb school, known as the Top Tyabb School number 3129, was built in 1891 and the second, Tyabb Railway School number 3544, in 1913. Both schools still serve the community, the Tyabb Railway Primary School at 88 The Crescent just off the main road and the Top School operating as the Tyabb Primary School on the corner of the Mornington-Tyabb Road and Jones Road, Tyabb.
Life continued at a slow pace until the 1960s with the development of Western Port. Growth pressures led to the sub-division of orchards and farms into smaller properties and hobby farms. Nowadays, there are no orchards left in Somerville and only a few remain around Tyabb. The tiny village of Tyabb has grown into a desirable outer fringe suburb of Melbourne. It has wonderful character and a unique identity and feel for being Tyabb.
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