As early as March 1851 the Port Phillip Gazette and The Establishment (Police Gazette) were naming police to be stationed at 'Carisbrook'. On July 1st 1851, the day that Victoria came into being, a contingent of police were stationed at an already built police camp, "Camp Carisbrook", The name Carisbrook was taken from the Normandy Castle on the Isle of Wight off England, Carisbrook Castle, and means 'In a prominent place in the centre of the island'. Carisbrook Police District covered a huge area from the known towns today - Talbot to Swan Hill, St Arnaud to Mt Alexander and had all the Courts until 1865. When gold hit the Simson Ranges in 1854 Carisbrook became an important industrial town with a four storied Steam Flour Mill (1855) Breweries (1855), Tannery, Butchers, etc.

Carisbrook became a gold mining town from 1867 when the deep lead mines were extended down from Clunes/Talbot/Majorca. For the next 40 years these commanded most of Carisbrook work force. Following the closure of the mines, those who did not go away for work remained to make Carisbrook the biggest egg-producing town in the state with two trainloads of eggs being freighted to Melbourne each week. Carisbrook is now one of the fastest growing towns in the state and now has 400 homes and about 1,200 people. Today a vibrant town with industry, slaughter yards, skin factory, chaff mills, quarries, etc which in total employs about 300 people.