[1] Upper Ferntree Gully was a farming area in its early days and formed the end of the electric train line from Melbourne.

Coonara House in Willow Road is the oldest building in Upper Ferntree Gully, ahead of The Royal Hotel.

Some historic buildings and sites have been lost over the years—including the original Primary School (which was nestled into the National Park, near the current Country Fire Authority station), the tearooms (corner of Rollings Road and Burwood Highway—many original architectural features were lost during renovations in the 1990s), the cycling velodrome (a bitumen track that was located behind St Joseph's College on the border of Upper Ferntree Gully and Ferntree Gully—this was used as part of The Sun newspaper's cycling competition), the Progress Hall (adjacent to Martin's Smash Repairs) and Kayser factory (Rose Street).

Kings Park (located in Willow Road and alongside Ferntree Gully and Ferny creeks) is home to football, cricket, athletics and baseball.

Gilmour Park is also the location of Melbourne Water's Retarding Basin (along Ferny Creek) and close to Sherbrooke Archery Club.

Willowbrooke aged care facility is located in Willow Road, Upper Ferntree Gully.

CFA and Police units responding initially received word that the fire was, "out the back of the Royal Hotel" which led to dozens of vehicles rushing to the scene.