Rebuilding Toolangi and Castella

The Communities

Toolangi and Castella are situated at the top of the Yarra Valley between Yarra Glen and Glenburn, approximately 70 kilometres north east of Melbourne. The area has a combined population of close to 900 people.

Toolangi is a small picturesque township on the edge of the Toolangi State Forest.

Castella is located approximately six kilometres from Toolangi and ten minutes drive from the Yarra Valley.

A major attraction is the Toolangi State Forest which is very popular with bushwalkers, trail bike riders, horse riders, campers and nature lovers. The name Toolangi is an Aboriginal word meaning 'tall trees'. The first Europeans in the area in the 1860s were paling splitters and timber cutters, and timber remains a major industry.

Other key industries include fruit and tree growing, sheep, beef cattle and grain farming, and residential building construction. The most common occupations are technicians and trade workers. 

Toolangi is the largest area in the southern hemisphere for strawberry runner production. Castella has a mix of farming and lifestyle properties and a quarry.

Businesses in the region include the Giverny kiwi fruit winery, the dining icon Toolangi Tavern, the Singing Gardens of CJ Dennis, Alpine Ash Retreat, Bingara Dell horse riding stables, a construction business, bed and breakfasts, artists, coffee roasters, fresh farmed produce and gardening supplies. The rich red soils of the area support commercial nurseries and the strawberry runner grower industry.

Most of the infrastructure serving the two communities is in Toolangi including the CFA brigade, the C.J. Dennis Hall Reserve, the Toolangi District Community House, a Maternal and Child Health Centre, Toolangi Primary School, Toolangi Tavern and General Store, and the unique Toolangi Forest Discovery Centre.

Renowned Australian author and poet CJ Dennis lived in Toolangi for 30 years until his death in 1938. His home 'Arden' now welcomes visitors as 'The Singing Gardens' Tea Rooms.

'Talking Toolangi' community newsletter is an important source of information and connection for the diverse communities of Toolangi and Castella.

The Bushfires

Toolangi and Castella were at various times ringed by fires and were under impact from the fires originating from Kilmore East on 7 February 2009 and later from the Chum Creek Road fires.

Residents were under severe ember attack for three days. Fire threat warnings remained for a week and a half after 7 February with no power and phones to the town.

The fire threat lasted almost a month, with Toolangi and Castella completely surrounded by out-of-control bushfires and at the mercy of a wind change.

The bushfires had a devastating effect on the townships. There were two deaths at Toolangi and four dwellings destroyed. Castella lost 14 dwellings and many more properties were damaged.  Fire-ravaged Toolangi State Forest lost many endangered round-leafed Pomaderris plants.

In the immediate aftermath of the fires, local businesses including the Singing Gardens and Toolangi Tavern, played an important role in helping to feed the community and emergency workers.

The Community House and CJ Dennis Hall became central meeting places for local residents, with daily briefings held there.

Since the fires, there is a strong sense of camaraderie with the people of Toolangi and Castella pulling together, both in the immediate aftermath of the fires, and now, as they work towards not only recovery, but also making their communities better and stronger.  There is still a long way to go, but both communities can be proud of their achievements.

Recovery Plan

Since the 2009 bushfires Community Recovery Committees and the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority (the Authority) have worked in partnership with the community, other government departments and authorities, the philanthropic sector and private donors to deliver outcomes for the vast majority of recovery projects proposed in the 33 Community Recovery Plans across the state. The plans have been pivotal in driving and directing the community rebuilding and recovery effort, through a focus on the needs and priorities of each individual community.

With around 1,100 projects and ideas identified in plans across Victoria, the Authority estimates that around 800 of these have been addressed in varying ways. Hundreds more projects identified outside this process have been delivered across affected communities.

The attachments below include the Community Recovery Plan and the response and funding status for all of the projects originally identified: