| Originally known as Mornington Junction, Baxter | | | | main meeting place of the locals. |
| was renamed in 1911 after Captain Benjamin | | | | Today there are 2 historical homesteads that |
| Baxter, the first European settler in the area. | | | | remain in Baxter. One is Sage Cottage. This was |
| Baxter arrived at Port Melbourne from County | | | | built on Carrup Carrup by John Sage in 1853. Since |
| Cork , Ireland in 1837. He opened the first post | | | | 2004 Sage Cottage has been owned by Menzies |
| office in Port Philip (Melbourne) in 1837. In 1838 | | | | Inc, an organization that offers assistance to |
| Baxter was granted a pastoral lease of 15,000 | | | | disadvantaged children. Located on the corner of |
| acres in the Langwarrin/Moorooduc area to run | | | | Tooradin and Moorooduc Highway, there is a cafe |
| cattle. Baxter's Cattle Station was also known as | | | | there which is open every Friday and Saturday |
| Carrup Carrup and he owned this run from 1838 | | | | from 10am - 3pm. |
| to 1860. In 1851 Baxter became the | | | | The other homestead is "Mulberry Hill" on Golf |
| Commissioner of Crown Land. | | | | Links Road . This was the home of Sir Darryl |
| Baxter spent most of his time in Melbourne taking | | | | Lindsay and Lady Joan Lindsay. Sir Darryl was an |
| care of other business interests so he appointed | | | | Australian artist and the brother of Norman |
| John Sage as overseer to Carrup Carrup. Sage | | | | Lindsay, also a famous artist. Sir Daryl became |
| drove the original cattle overland from Port Philip | | | | the Director of the National Art Gallery of Victoria |
| to Carrup Carrup. Baxter returned to Carrup | | | | . His wife Joan wrote the best selling novel, Picnic |
| Carrup permanently in 1843. He drained much of | | | | at Hanging Rock. Mulberry Hill is now classified by |
| the swamp area and started growing wheat | | | | the National Trust and is open to the public every |
| which fetched high prices. Benjamin Baxter died at | | | | Sunday afternoon for tours. An entry fee applies. |
| Carrup Carrup in May 1892. His grave is at | | | | Another literary connection to Baxter is British |
| Frankston Cemetery. His wife Martha passed | | | | born novelist, Neville Shute. In the 1950's Shute |
| away aged 94 in January 1906 and was laid to | | | | was the worlds best selling novelist. On his arrival |
| rest beside him. | | | | in Australia in 1952 he became a land owner in |
| The township of Baxter began to prosper in the | | | | Baxter. One of his novels, "On the beach" was |
| late 1890s when it became well known for it's | | | | made into a movie and the filming took place at |
| market gardens and orchards. The Baxter | | | | Canadian Bay, Frankston and Philip Island. |
| Primary School was built in 1890 and is still part of | | | | For more fascinating historical facts, photos, and |
| the school buildings today. The Baxter Railway | | | | other information about the magnificent |
| Station Post Office was opened in 1892 and later | | | | Mornington Peninsula, please visit us. |
| became known as the Baxter General Store, the | | | | |