Historical information

Rockbank was once part of the Braybrook Road District. In 1871, the Road District became the Shire of Braybrook. In 1916, this district was transferred to the Shire of Melton. In 1951, further land was lost to the Shire of Melton.

The Rockbank Inn built C1853 was located on Beatty's Road, one of the main routes from Melbourne to Ballarat during the gold rush.

In December 1854, troops of the 12th and 40th Regiments marching to suppress the Eureka Stockade stopped at the inn:

After the closure of the Inn C1870, it became a residence of the Beattie family for nearly 90 years. The building was then abandoned C1960 and it then fell into ruin.

The Inn will become an important land in the new Woodlea residential housing estate.

Past owners of the site include:

1840s–1853 William Cross Yuille. Original pastoral run holder. In 1853, he sold of the run to W.C.T. Clarke but retained the 20‑acre inn site.

1853–c.1855 James Stewart & John Brown. Possibly built earliest section of the inn.

c.1855–1870 John Gray. Commissioned 1855 bluestone additions; trustees sold in 1870.

c.1870–c.1960 Beattie family. Long‑term residents; inn no longer operated as hotel.

Physical description

Digital PDF File

Inscriptions & markings

Gold rush relic reborn: Inside Melbourne’s Woodlea estate built around a restored 1850s inn