| Type: | suburb |
| Stonehaven | |
| City: | Geelong |
| State: | vic |
| Use Lga Map: | yes |
| Coordinates: | -38.1225°N 144.2253°W |
| Lga: | Golden Plains Shire |
| Postcode: | 3221 |
| Pop: | 81 |
| Stategov: | Polwarth |
| Fedgov: | Corangamite |
| Near-Nw: | Bannockburn |
| Near-N: | Gheringhap |
| Near-Ne: | Batesford |
| Near-W: | Murgheboluc |
| Near-E: | Fyansford |
| Near-Sw: | Gnarwarre |
| Near-S: | Barrabool |
| Near-Se: | Ceres |
Stonehaven is a small settlement about 10 km west of Geelong, Victoria, on the Hamilton Highway. It consists of a number of scattered farmhouses, the former primary school building (now a private residence), a community hall (now derelict) and a Country Fire Authority (CFA) fire station. The fire station is sometimes used as a polling booth for state and federal elections.[1] The Ceres Bridge Estate winery has its vineyard in Stonehaven, producing chardonnay and pinot noir.[2]
The community started agitating for a post office as early as 1883, when over 30 people signed a petition to the government.[3] The Stonehaven Post Office opened in 1927 and was closed in 1958.[4]
The school was No. 2199. A contract for £320 15s 6d to build a wooden school building was given to H. Moran in April 1879.[5] From 1879 to 1926 the school was known as the Lower Leigh State School.[6] In 1880 the teacher, J. McCann, wrote to the Geelong Advertiser about the difficulty students from Barrabool had reaching the school after a flood had damaged the bridge.[7] In 1935 the Public Works Department approved additions to the teacher's residence at the school to a value of £309.[8]
In 1953, farmers discovered rabbits at Stonehaven which had become immune to myxomatosis.[9] These so-called "super rabbits" had appeared only three years after the virus had been released to control rabbit numbers.
In 2012 a CFA fire truck became bogged in a paddock at Stonehaven while fighting a grass fire. The crew had to abandon the $500,000 tanker which was extensively damaged by the fire.[10]