Glenlyon is a small village in the Shire of Hepburn local government area, Victoria, Australia around 12 km from Daylesford along the Daylesford - Malmsbury Road, and around 101 km from the Melbourne CBD via Kyneton and Malmsbury.
It is on the Loddon River.
Despite only being 12 klms from Daylesford and with a growing permanent and weekender population, local water provider Central Highlands Water has not deemed it necessary to provide Glenlyon with town piped water despite several reservoirs being nearby and therefore all residents have a combination of either tanks and/or bores for drinking and garden water use. Other utilities include electricity provided by several retailers, waste water via septic systems and gas via fixed LPG bottle.
Glenlyon is well known for its main street of old European trees lending an 'Englishness' to the village and providing a cooling canopy in the heat of summer.
As at the 2011 Commonwealth Census, the village of Glenlyon & it's immediate hinterland (the census district includes the localities/hamlets of Denver, Porcupine Ridge, parts of Wheatsheaf and Musk Vale) had a population of 638 people broken up into 314 male, 324 female. The median age of the local population is 50. The top 5 cultural backgrounds of the local population are broken up into 30% claiming English heritage, 20% Australian heritage, 13.5% Irish, 11.9% Scottish and 3.3% Germany - however of these numbers 74.9% were actually born in Australia, 5.8% in England and 3% in New Zealand. 84.7% only spoke English at home. A reflection of the village as the location of many commuters to either Daylesford, Ballaarat or even Melbourne and reflecting the fact that the locale is a popular retirement, weekender, holiday home or hobby farm location is that 44.1% are employed in professional or managerial roles with 13.9% as tradesmen and 21.9% as clerical or public servants. Only 6.6% work in rural or farming.
History
In 1846, Richard Babington and John Carpenter purchased a part of the Holcombe Run (originally part of A.F. Mollisons Coliban Run) and called it Glenlyon after their Scottish home.
Glenlyon Post Office opened around May 1858 and closed in 1973.
Glenlyon once had a primary school and a hotel but both are closed.
The original general store operated until approx 2009 when it closed. A new general store opened in the old premises, bringing to the town a revitalised heart. The revitalised store, which is well utilised by locals, car or bike rallists and many tourists passing through does duty as a renowned cafe with an outdoor eating area, general groceries, hub of the local community notice board and on some evenings (Fridays), late night dining and music.
The historic old Shire Hall in the main street, once home of the Shire of Glenlyon before it merged with the neighbouring Borough of Daylesford in May 1966 (itself the subject of the local council reorganisations in 1995 into the bigger Shire of Hepburn) is used as a public hall although the local council, Hepburn, has allowed it to become somewhat run down.
A monthly village or farmers market (3rd Saturday monthly) is also held in and around the Old Shire Hall
The nearby Glenlyon Recreation Reserve (in Dysart Street) is also the location of a mineral spring and picnic ground (like those that exist in Hepburn Springs but with no crowds) with a bore and hand pump allowing visitors to 'sample' for themselves the heavily mineralised water. The spring is located to the far side of the recreation reserve along the unsealed Suttons Lane. Parking and BBQ facilities are provided at the spring.
Glenlyon Recreation Reserve is also home to the Glenlyon & District Pony Club with events throughout the year.
Once a year, several of the renowned local gardens open to the public under the banner 'Gardens of Glenlyon" with the local store and a winery providing meals. The purpose of the weekend (2014 is on April 12 and 13, 2015 will be in August 2015) is to show a variety of gardens with an emphasis on sustainability and landscape in different seasons (hence the changed date each year).
Also yearly, is the annual Glenlyon Food & Wine Fayre. This event, held in the grounds of the old Shire Hall, show cases local and regional Victoria food, wine and beer products in a more rural atmosphere than the usually big city events. 2014's event was held at the end of July 2014 with funds being raised to go towards helping in the restoration and renovation of the old Shire Hall.