Melton Leader

The Melton area is the heart of thoroughbred racing in Melbourne’s outer west. It comprises the suburbs of Hillside, Caroline Springs, Rockbank, Taylors Hill, Toolern Vale and Melton. Melton is one of the fastest growing local government areas in Australia, with two distinct growth areas - Melton and the ever-expanding Caroline Springs and Hillside. There are over 91,000 residents in the shire, with its centre located about 40 kilometres west of the Melbourne CBD. The area developed in its early history with traffic passing thorough on its way to the Ballarat goldfields during the gold rush in the 1850s. The Melton shire has been home to thoroughbred racing since then, with numerous identities and studs developed in the last 150 years. There are over 140 registered trainers in the region, and over 1200 horses, which earned it the name ‘The Heart of the Thoroughbred Country’. Highlights in the region include the Hannah Watts Recreation Reserve, the Melton Waves Leisure Centre, Toolern Creek Heritage Trail and The Willows Historical Park. There are numerous wineries in the area with Witchmount Estate Winery and Galli Estate Winery just south of Melton, and the Parwan Estate Winery near Melton Reservoir. Read more about Melton. About the Melton Leader The Melton Leader was first published as the Melton/Bacchus Marsh Leader on August 31, 1999. Its masthead was changed on April 30, 2001 to Melton/Moorabool Leader, reflecting the new larger municipalities. It is delivered to about 27,000 homes.