Rainbow, Victoria

Rainbow
Victoria

War memorial in the main street
Rainbow
Population: 497(2006)[1]
Postcode: 3424
Elevation: 88 m (289 ft)
Location:
LGA: Shire of Hindmarsh
State District: Mildura, Lowan
Federal Division: Mallee
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
22.6 °C
73 °F
8.8 °C
48 °F
355.7 mm
14 in

Rainbow is a town in north west Victoria, Australia, 400 kilometres (249 mi) from Melbourne. The town is in the Shire of Hindmarsh and the nearest large towns are Warracknabeal, Dimboola and Nhill, all to the south. At the 2006 census Rainbow had a population of 497.[1]

Contents

History

In 1898 the railway line was extended from Jeparit to a projected town site, Rainbow Rise, named after a sand lunette covered with wild flowers in the shape of a rainbow. A post office opened on 2 July 1900 [2] and town blocks in Rainbow were sold in October 1901. By 1910 the township was referred to as the Metropolis of the Mallee.

Rainbow was part of the Dimboola Shire until 25 January 1995, when the shire was then united with the Lowan Shire.

The town was the subject of an episode of the ABC television program, Enough Rope, with Andrew Denton, on 31 July 2006.

Today

Rainbow is a small commercial centre for the surrounding agricultural area. To its south lies Victoria's largest freshwater lake, Lake Hindmarsh, while to the north are Lake Albacutya, which is usually dry but is a Ramsar-listed bird habitat, and Wyperfeld National Park. For tourists, especially birdwatchers, Rainbow makes a useful base from which to explore the surrounding region. The town is notable for its unique main street, which incorporates a central strip of parkland.

Despite its remoteness, Rainbow prides itself on community involvement. There are football, netball, cricket, golf, bowls and volleyball clubs, arts groups, a community learning group, service clubs and a proactive town committee. Local businesses include a baker, butcher, chemist, well-run modern supermarket, stock and station agents, a weekly newspaper (the Rainbow-Jeparit Argus) and a service station.

With its neighbouring township Jeparit, Rainbow has an football team, Jeparit-Rainbow, competing in the Mallee Football League.

Rainbow has two schools that cater for students from farms and towns nearby. Rainbow Secondary College, located at 17 Albert Street caters for students through Years 7 to 12 (VCE). The Rainbow Primary School catering for younger students was co-located to the site of the secondary college in 2011 in a new $3.5 million building.

Golfers play at the course of the Rainbow Golf Club on Nhill Road.[3]

Population

References

External links