Merino, Victoria

Merino
Victoria
Merino
Coordinates 37°43′0″S 141°33′0″E / 37.71667°S 141.55000°ECoordinates: 37°43′0″S 141°33′0″E / 37.71667°S 141.55000°E
Population 364 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 3310
Location
  • 342 km (213 mi) west of Melbourne
  • 226 km (140 mi) west of Ballarat
  • 48 km (30 mi) west of Hamilton
  • 77 km (48 mi) north of Portland
  • 23 km (14 mi) south west of Casterton
LGA(s) Shire of Glenelg
State electorate(s) Lowan
Federal Division(s) Wannon

Merino /məˈriːnoʊ/[2] is a town in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Glenelg local government area, 363 kilometres west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2011 census, Merino had a population of 364.[1]

The first European settlement of the area was in 1837, when Francis Henty, brother of Edward Henty, established Merino Downs station. Henty established the station after a report on the high quality pasture from explorer Major Thomas Mitchell at the Henty property near Portland.[3] A store and post office agency was established in 1854 and the first town lots were sold the next year. An official Post Office opened on 1 June 1858.[4] The town continued to grow through the 1850s and 1860s with the construction of churches, hotels and schools. In 1870, the courthouse was moved from Digby to Merino. The Merino co-operative butter factory was established around 1885. After World War I, the area was opened up for soldier settlement. In 1955 Merino was connected to the electricity grid.[5]

Golfers play at the course of the Merino Golf Club on Digby Road.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "2011 Census QuickStats: Merino". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Butler, S., ed. (2009). "Merino". Macquarie Dictionary (5th ed.). Sydney: Macquarie Dictionary Publishers Pty Ltd. 1952 pages. ISBN 978-18-7642-966-9.
  3. ↑ "Settlement at Merino Downs, 1837". Ballarat Genealogy. Retrieved 2007-06-09.
  4. ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  5. ↑ "Henty & Merino Historic Timeline". Ballarat Genealogy. Retrieved 2007-06-09.
  6. ↑ Golf Select. "Merino". Retrieved 2009-05-11.