Diamond Creek and its roads
The Green Wedge
Nillumbik calls itself the Green Wedge Shire. It covers 432 square kilometres, with Eltham and Diamond Creek its two big centres and rural localities beyond.
A town on the creek
The shops and the station sit on the banks of the creek, and the Hurstbridge line follows it north from Eltham. The creek has a floodplain, so never drive into floodwater, whatever the car.
Yan Yean Road starts here
It runs north from Diamond Creek Road towards Doreen and Yan Yean, four lanes and divided at this end with a 70 km/h limit.
Fire history
Bushfires came through the area a number of times between 1894 and 1969, and the Community Centre was an evacuation point in February 2009. The local CFA brigade dates from 1942.
Before fire season, have the mechanic check
- The battery, so the car starts first time on a hot, smoky morning
- The cooling system, hoses and fan, which work hardest on the hottest days
- Tyres, spare included, in case the way out is a long detour or a gravel road
- Wipers, washers and headlights, for smoke and ash
- The air conditioning and cabin filter, so the cabin can recirculate
- Any leak or warning light you've been meaning to get to
Your side of it
Through summer, keep the tank from running low and park the car facing the way out. Your fire plan itself comes from the CFA, not from us: the car is just the part a mechanic can help with.
If it were our car
We'd put the car through its service in spring, before the fire danger period starts, and ask for the battery and cooling system results in writing. Then we'd keep it fuelled and ready right through summer.