The first European settlement at Narbethong was established in about 1865 by Frederick Fisher. Fisher built a 12-room hotel, the
Black Spur Inn, on the road which was being built to link Melbourne with the new goldfield at
Woods Point. Fisher came from the town of
Narberth in
Wales, so it is likely that the name Narbethong was based on that. The Post Office closed in 1993. A primary school opened in Narbethong on 7 July 1903. In 1913, the
Healesville Shire health officer reported that a lack of ventilation made the building a health hazard for students and teachers. A new school building was officially opened by
Lord Huntingfield, the
Governor of Victoria, on 9 April 1937. The town was devastated in the Black Friday bushfires in 1939. Initial reports suggested that the hotel was the only building left standing. but other buildings survived including the school and The Hermitage. Narbethong was again severely affected by the
Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. In 2011, a new public hall was built using local timbers, with the whole building being wrapped in a bronze mesh fire resistant screen. It was officially opened on 26 November 2011 by the Governor of Victoria,
Alex Chernov. A scene in the 1959 film
On the Beach was set in Narbethong. It featured the characters played by
Gregory Peck and
Ava Gardner spending their first night together. ==References==