Hedley

About Hedley

Hedley is a small rural locality in the South Gippsland Shire, situated along the South Gippsland Highway approximately 180 kilometres south-east of Melbourne and midway between the towns of Welshpool and Foster. Spanning nearly 88 square kilometres of rolling Gippsland countryside, the locality has a population of 108 residents. Hedley was named after Dr George Hedley, a colonial figure associated with Port Albert and the South Gippsland region, and once supported a small farming and timber-milling community served by the now-closed South Gippsland Railway.

Today Hedley is best known as a waypoint on the Great Southern Rail Trail, a popular cycling and walking trail that follows the former railway corridor through South Gippsland. The Hedley section of the trail passes through open paddocks, butterfly-rich bushland, and coastal farmland, making it a favourite among cyclists and nature lovers. Local heritage landmarks include the Anglican Church of the Transfiguration and the historic Hedley Public Hall, built in 1912. Residents access services and shopping in Foster, approximately 20 kilometres to the west, while the broader South Gippsland region offers beaches, state forests, and the renowned Wilsons Promontory National Park nearby.

Hedley falls under postcode 3967 and is governed by the Wellington Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Monash, while state elections fall under the Gippsland South (Eastern Victoria) electorate.

Nearby Suburbs

• Binginwarri, VIC 3966
• Alberton, VIC 3971
• Alberton West, VIC 3971
• Balook, VIC 3971
• Calrossie, VIC 3971
• Devon North, VIC 3971