Holbrook

The Submarine Town

The ‘simply greater’ rural town of Holbrook is situated between Melbourne and Sydney on the Hume Highway. Holbrook is the largest town in Greater Hume Shire and is primarily a service centre for the surrounding region and visiting highway traffic.

Known both locally and nationally as ‘the Submarine Town’, Holbrook is the home to the decommissioned Australian submarine HMAS Otway and a 1/5 scale model of the British submarine HMS B11from 1914.

The town was named Holbrook in 1914 in honour of Lieutenant N.D. Holbrook of the Royal Navy who was the first submariner to receive the Victoria Cross in World War I and had skippered the original HMS B11 during that war.

Today, Holbrook is the centre of a richly diverse rural economy and produces wool, wheat and other grains, lucerne, fat cattle and sheep. The Holbrook district has some of the best grazing land in the state, with numerous cattle studs and primary producers reputedly being leaders in their field.

Other farming operations include the production of fine wool and meat from both sheep and goats, cropping, pasture seed production, tree nurseries, timber plantations and grape growing.

The area of Holbrook has had several names over the years. Originally named by Hume and Hovell as ‘Friday Mount’ and ‘Camden Forest’ , it was later known as ‘Therry’s’ or ‘Billabong’ after the Rev John Therry in 1836, followed by ‘Ten Mile Creek’ in 1838 and ‘Germanton’ in 1858.

The name Germanton was officially gazetted in 1876 but was then changed to Holbrook in 1914 after Lieutenant Holbrook.

In 1995 the Royal Australian Navy gifted the fin of HMAS Otway to Holbrook, and over time local funds and a generous donation from Mrs Gundula Holbrook allowed the outer skin to the water line of the submarine to be installed in the Submarine Precinct.

The Submarine Precinct is a well known stop over on the Hume Highway allowing travellers to experience the size and grandeur of a submarine in a unique rural setting.

Holbrook has a variety of activities for both locals and visitors alike that are worth exploring.

Museums to explore include the Woolpack Inn, National Museum of Australian Pottery and the Submarine Exhibition Complex.
The town features many Historic Buildings of a bygone era with a number of country hotels, church buildings and quaint speciality shops.
Visit Holbrook’s Miniature Railway, Air Park and the various picturesque bush walks accessible to the visitor.
Relax in Holbrook’s great parks including Ten Mile Creek Gardens, Submarine Park and Circus Flat.
Whether passing through or staying a bit longer Holbrook has some great places to eat. Try out one of the many eateries in town.
Enjoy family friendly activities throughout the year with the Planes, Trains and Submarine Festival, Holbrook Show, Commander Holbrook Race Meeting, and Sheep & Wool Fair.