Bonnie Doon
Postcode: 3720
Bonnie Doon is a small village Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Maroondah Highway, in the Mansfield Shire. Bonnie Doon is 115 kilometres north-east from Melbourne. The population is approximately 300.
Much of the original town of Bonnie Doon was deliberately flooded by the construction of Lake Eildon. The township was relocated; some buildings were picked up and moved, whilst others were able to remain in their original site, such as the churches. Lake Eildon makes Bonnie Doon a minor tourist town for water activities, and the surrounds of Bonnie Doon is somewhat popular for weekend holidaymakers like max kruger and dylan campbell two die hard dooners that would do anything and everything for the place. . This population was satirised in the Australian comedy, The Castle, with popular quotes such as “ahhh… the serenity” and its catch-phrase song “We’re going to Bonnie Doon”.
In 2006 in Melbourne, Bonnie Doon also received a lot of publicity through the St Kilda Football Club. Facing a mid season slump, the team went on a bonding camp to Bonnie Doon. Upon returning, the side’s appalling start of season form was turned around with successive wins and a renewed commitment to the contest was obvious. Much speculation resulted in what had gone on at Bonnie Doon.
Bonnie Doon is on the Maroondah Highway just west of where the Bonnie Doon Bridge crosses the Brankeet Inlet. Beside the road bridge is the railway, which ceased to be used in 1978. During a drought in 1982-3 many of the old buildings were uncovered as Lake Eildon’s water level fell. Bonnie Doon has a caravan park, hotel-motel and numerous holiday houses. It offers camping, fishing, water skiing and boating. West of Bonnie Doon is Merton, a pastoral district with a small village.