Koondrook, Victoria

Koondrook
Victoria

Main street of Koondrook
Koondrook
Population: 802[1]
Postcode: 3580
Elevation: 78 m (256 ft)
Location:
LGA: Shire of Gannawarra
State District: Swan Hill
Federal Division: Mallee
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
22.2 °C
72 °F
8.4 °C
47 °F
391.4 mm
15.4 in

Koondrook ( /ˈkndrʊk/)[2] is a town situated on the Murray River, Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Gannawarra Local government area, 301 kilometres (187 mi) north west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Koondrook had a population of 802.[1]

Contents

History

The Wemba-Wemba Aborigines were thought to have occupied the Koondrook area prior to European settlement commencing in 1843. The Post Office opened on 1 March 1879.[3] In 1889 the Kerang-Koondrook Tramway[4] was opened linking the town to the Victorian railway network, being officially closed on 3 March 1981.[5]

The town today

Koondrook is connected by a bridge to its twin town of Barham in the neighbouring state of New South Wales. Industry in the area includes dairying on the river flats and citrus production using irrigation supplied from the Murray River. Timber from the surrounding state forests is used in the production of quality redgum timber and furniture.

Fishing and camping in the area popular activities for tourists in the surrounding state forests. The forests are important breeding areas for colonial waterbirds and are visited by migratory birds.

The town in conjunction with neighbouring township Barham across the Murray has an Australian rules football team competing in the Central Murray Football League.[6]

Notable people

Melbourne Cup winning jockey Roy Higgins was born in Koondrook in 1938.

References

  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Barham-Koondrook (Koondrook Part) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=UCL203400&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2007-10-25. 
  2. ^ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
  3. ^ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country=, retrieved 2008-04-11 
  4. ^ Kerang-Koondrook Tramway Buckland, J.L. & ors. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin October 1948, pp5-7
  5. ^ Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society) March 1990 (Vol 18 No 3)
  6. ^ Full Points Footy, Koondrook-Barham, http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Koondruk-Barham.htm, retrieved 2008-07-25 

External links