Bacchus Marsh is an urban centre and suburban locality in Victoria, Australia located approximately 50 kilometres (30 mi) west of Melbourne and 14 kilometres (9 mi) west of Melton. The population of the urban area (including suburbs) is estimated at over 17,000 people, while the central locality (suburb) is home to 5,566 people. It is the largest urban area in the local government area of Shire of Moorabool.
Officially still a town, it is traditionally a market garden area, producing a large amount of the area's fruits and vegetables. In recent times it has become a major commuter town of Melbourne, as a result of being one of the major towns in the Melbourne-Ballarat corridor just beyond the metropolitan urban growth boundary, the formerly sleepy town's population is growing rapidly due primarily to its affordable starter homes.
It was named after one of its original inhabitants, Captain William Henry Bacchus, who saw the great value of this locality as it was situated on two rivers — the Lerderderg and Werribee.
Read more about Bacchus Marsh: Urban Structure, Transport, Recreation and Open Space, Health Services, Education, Sports and Community Groups, Notable People