The town has become a popular 'tree change' destination for Melbourne residents seeking large leafy blocks and a quiet lifestyle[4] within easy commuting distance from the city.

As such, the town has grown substantially over the past 5–10 years, with an increase of almost 2,600[1] residents since 2011, although planning controls have been implemented to protect the character and "outstanding natural beauty" of the region.

[6] In 1840, Henry Fyshe Gisborne, Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Port Phillip District, set up an outpost for his Border Police troopers to assist colonialists with the suppression of Aboriginal resistance.

[7] Gisborne is the largest township in the Macedon Ranges and the closest to Melbourne's city centre, which can be accessed easily via a 45-minute drive along the Calder Freeway or a 50-minute train ride on the Bendigo Line.

Sporting facilities cater for Australian rules football, cricket, soccer, tennis, netball, basketball,gymnastics, and lawn bowls, as well as a heated indoor pool.

[16] Locals, worried about the environmental and cultural impacts of this growing popularity, successfully campaigned for new planning controls to protect the character of the region.