Warrnambool, Victoria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Warrnambool Victoria |
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 Location of Warrnambool in Victoria (red) |
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| Population: | 30,392 (2006)[1] (46th) |
| Established: | 1855 |
| Time zone:
• Summer (DST) |
AEST (UTC+10) |
| Location: | 265 km (165 mi) from Melbourne |
| LGA: | City of Warrnambool |
| County: | Villiers |
| State District: | South-West Coast |
| Federal Division: | Wannon |
Warrnambool is a regional city with a population of 30,392 people on the south-western coast of Victoria, Australia, located in the municipality City of Warrnambool. It is at the western end of the Great Ocean Road, but is more quickly reached along the Princes Highway, 265 kilometres and 3 hours from Melbourne by road or rail.
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[edit] History
The word Warrnambool comes from the local Aboriginal name for a nearby volcanic cone. It has been interpreted to mean many things including “land between two rivers”, "two swamps" or "ample water".
The treacherous coast near the city is known as the "Shipwreck Coast" and evidence suggests the first ships to arrive were among the earliest international explorers. The legend of the Mahogany Ship is strongly linked to the city.
Many believe the first Europeans to discover the area were Portuguese sailors, who surveyed the coastline nearby and possibly marooned near the site of the present town as early as the 1500s, however this is currently unproven. French explorer Nicholas Baudin recorded coastal landmarks in 1802. The area was frequented by whalers early in the 19th century. Matthew Flinders sailed the coast in the Investigator, and Lieutenant James Grant in the Lady Nelson also explored the area.
The first settlers arrived in the 1840s in the Lady Bay area, which was a natural harbour. The area was first surveyed in 1846.
During the Victorian Gold Rush, Warrnambool became an important port and grew quickly in the 1850s, benefiting from the private ownership of nearby Port Fairy.
It was gazetted as a municipality in 1855; became a borough in 1863. Warrnambool was declared a town in 1883, and a city in 1918.
[edit] Economy
Warrnambool is a popular tourist destination and a comprehensive regional service centre. The mainstay of the economy is agriculture and its support industry (particularly dairy farming and associated milk processing). Other major industries and services include tourism, retail, education, health, meat processing, clothing manufacture and construction.
The Fletcher Jones and Staff Pty Ltd clothing factory opened in 1948 and was closed in 2005.[2]
The City's main education centres include Deakin University Warrnambool Campus, the South West Institute of TAFE, government and private primary and secondary schools, and pre-school centres. As well as the spectacular views from the Great Ocean Road, there are several beaches nearby, some of which are used for surfing. In the winter months, Southern Right whales are regularly seen in the waters near the city at the Logan's Beach nursery, and boats offer whale-watching tours.
[edit] Features
The Warrnambool Botanic Gardens feature wide curving paths, rare trees, a lily pond with ducks, a fernery, a band rotunda, and was designed by notable landscape architect, William Guilfoyle.
The post office and lighthouse date back to the early days of settlement.
Eleven suburbs surround the CBD of Warrnambool: North, South, East and West Warrnambool, Merrivale, Brierly, Dennington, Sherwood Park, Woodford, Bushfield and Allansford.
Warrnambool's War Memorial is fondly referred to as the "Dirty Angel", due to the fact that, from certain vantage points, the statue appears to be holding an erect penis.[3][4]
Several bars and hotels coexist in the town including: the Seanchai, Warrnambool Hotel, The Whaler's Inn, The Criterion, The Royal, The Western, The Caledonian, Mac's, Rafferty's Tavern, The Gallery, The Loft, The Victoria, The Fishbowl and, just out of town, The Junction Hotel.
The Warrnambool foreshore is a popular swimming area, and is adjacent to the Lake Pertobe parklands. A number of caravan parks are also located in the area.
[edit] Transport
Warrnambool is linked to the rest of the state by the Princes Highway and the Hopkins Highway
Rail and bus services also operate to Melbourne and Geelong. Trains call at Warrnambool's two stations, Warrnambool in the city and Sherwood Park in the city's outer east at Deakin University operating seven days a week.
Local buses cover Warrnambool's city and suburbs and extend to the nearby towns of Port Fairy and Koroit. V/Line buses connect Warrnambool with Portland, Mount Gambier, Ballarat and Hamilton.
[edit] Events and culture
Warrnambool is home to the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic, which is arguably the most prestigious race in Australia. Drivers from all over Australia and America come to Warrnambool on the Australia Day long weekend to claim the trophy.
The city is also the finishing point of the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic road bicycle race, one of the world’s second oldest bike races, and the longest one day bicycle endurance races in the world, held every October since 1895.[5] [6]
Warrnambool is also the home of the Grand Annual steeplechase, which has more jumps (33) than any other horse race, and is one of the longest steeplechases in the world.[7] It is held on the first Thursday in May each year as part of a 3 day racing festival, and attracts many people from across Australia. The Wunta festival is held in Warrnambool every February.
The Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum is in Warrnambool. It includes a model of an 1800s port village and collections of material salvaged from some of the shipwrecks in the area, most notably the Minton peacock salvaged from the Loch Ard. This year sees the return of a NYE event with fireworks to the centre of Warrnambool with NYE on the Hill sure to draw big crowds on the 31 December 2007!
Between the 1st-3rd September 2008, the city will host, along with Melbourne, the 2008 Australian Football International Cup, featuring 14 nations from around the world playing Australian rules football.[8] The sport is highly popular in the Warrnambool, the city has a very competitive local league and is the origin of many high profile AFL players.
[edit] Notable people from Warrnambool
- Members of rock band Airbourne
- Jonathan Brown, Australian rules football player
- Leon Cameron, former Australian rules football player
- Paul Couch, former Australian rules football player
- Dave Hughes, comedian
- Noel Mugavin, former Australian rules football player
- Jordan Lewis, Australian rules football player
- Wayne Schwass, former Australian rules football player
- Michelle Ferris, Olympic Gold Medallist, Cycling
- Smoky Dawson, Radio & Country Music Star
- Sam Grayson, member of rock band The Androids
[edit] Sister City
- Miura, Japan
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). Wangaratta (Statistical District). 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ ABC News: Future of Fletcher Jones factory may be known today - July 26, 2007
- ^ NULLARBOR FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT (Travelog)
- ^ Great Ocean Road - Warrnambool
- ^ Race History: The First Race
- ^ BOOST FOR MELBOURNE TO WARRNAMBOOL CYCLING CLASSIC
- ^ Warrnambool Racing Club - History
- ^ AFL International Cup
[edit] External links
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