Colbinabbin, Victoria

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Colbinabbin is a small town in central Victoria, Australia with a population of about 200. The name is derived from an aboriginal word meaning "A place at the meeting of the red and black soils". Located on the banks of Cornella Creek, Colbinabbin was settled in the 1850's. In the 1930's the area had significant change with the construction of the Waranga - Mallee channel, which dissects the town. Irrigation altered land use to the North of the town and to this day has made it very productive farmland. Currently a large amount of this land is devoted to growing tomatoes for canning. Colbinabbin in recent years has seen a boom in wine growing and a substantial number of vineyards have been established in the area, especially on what is known locally as 'The hill.' The red soil, abundant water though irrigation and warm climate have accelerated this development. Vignerons include include Andrew Branson, locally known as 'Stumpy,' Daryl Rathjen with his 'Whistling Eagle' Vineyard and noted wood carving at the vineyard's entrance and his brother, Daryl Rathjen, whose fine wines are of exceptional quality. Several locals have combined to form a vineyard called Mount Misery wines and their wines are fine table wines. Merlot is usually a speciality of this cooperative, however a bi-polar sheep has eaten most vines for the 2006 vintage. Colbinabbin has an active community and fields an Australian Rules Football team in the Heathcote and District Football League. Known as 'The Grasshoppers,' the Colbinabbin team is distinctive in its colours of a green vest with a gold triangle. Colbinabbin achieved considerable success in the early part of this century under the leadership of Phillip 'Toot' Morgan. Under the auspices of local identity Daryl Wilson Colbinabbin achieved 3 successive Premierships. Daryl has since moved to a position at the Bendigo Bombers.