Goroke, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Goroke is a town in the Wimmera
region of Victoria
. The town is located in the Shire of West Wimmera Local Government Area, 370 kilometres (230 mi) north west of the state capital, Melbourne
. At the 2006 census
, Goroke had a population of 250.
term for the Australian Magpie
, the town was established in 1882 as a supply centre for local selectors
and by 1884 had a population of 50. Goroke Post Office opened on 1 July 1884.
Three years later, facilities in Goroke included a flour mill, two stores, a school, a mechanics' hall, a hotel and a blacksmith's. Originally connected to Kaniva
and Nhill
by a track through the Little Desert, in 1894, the railway reached Goroke from Natimuk
.
growing and fat lamb and mutton production, beef cattle, cropping, forestry, wine grape production and yabby
cultivation. Education is provided by a P-12 college. The local newspaper, the Goroke Free Press is published weekly. Nearby Lake Charlegrark is the venue for an annual Country Music
festival, held on the third weekend in February.
with an enrolment of 108 students from prep through to year 12
In football, one of the earliest games recorded was between Natimuk and Goroke, played at Spring Hill on 13 February 1890. Goroke has played in various leagues over the years; it merged with Border Districts in 1999 to play in the Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League
.
Goroke has had many tennis teams over the years hosting its own league. The tennis club now has a senior and a junior team which play in the Kowree Tennis Association.
The Goroke Gun Club conducts several shoots each year. The main events are the Goroke show day shoot and the pre-Christmas one.
The Golf course was first laid out at the Recreation Reserve and showgrounds in the 1920s. Golf was played on the course until the war, the club was reformed in the late 1950s on the Compston property on the Natimuk Road. After a period of recess it moved to its current location on the Goroke Nhill Road in 1978, the final of the 18 sandscrape holes being officially opened in 1988.
A cycling club did exist during the 1930s in Goroke but there are no records that remain.
There was a swimming club that was formed during the thirties when concrete work for the pool was undertaken. Due to the earth movement the concrete cracked and it was not safe for public use. The existing pool was opened in 1973 and has several improvements made including the addition of solar heating in 2008.
Cricket in Goroke was played from 1934-40 in a competition between Miga Lake, Karnak, Gymbowen and two teams from Goroke. Goroke now fields one senior team in the Horsham Cricket Association.
Important Bird Area
, so identified by BirdLife International
because of its importance for a variety of waterbirds.
Wimmera
The Wimmera is a region in the west of the Australian state of Victoria.It covers the dryland farming area south of the range of Mallee scrub, east of the South Australia border and north of the Great Dividing Range...
region of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. The town is located in the Shire of West Wimmera Local Government Area, 370 kilometres (230 mi) north west of the state capital, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Goroke had a population of 250.
History
Named after the AboriginalIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
term for the Australian Magpie
Australian Magpie
The Australian Magpie is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea. A member of the Artamidae, it is closely related to the butcherbirds...
, the town was established in 1882 as a supply centre for local selectors
Selection (Australian history)
Selection referred to "free selection before survey" of crown land in some Australian colonies under land legislation introduced in the 1860s. These acts were similar to the United States Homestead Act and were intended to encourage closer settlement, based on intensive agriculture, such as...
and by 1884 had a population of 50. Goroke Post Office opened on 1 July 1884.
Three years later, facilities in Goroke included a flour mill, two stores, a school, a mechanics' hall, a hotel and a blacksmith's. Originally connected to Kaniva
Kaniva, Victoria
Kaniva is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Western Highway, north of Little Desert National Park, in the Shire of West Wimmera local government area. It is located roughly 25km east of the South Australian border and 43km east of Bordertown. At the 2006 census, Kaniva had a...
and Nhill
Nhill, Victoria
Nhill is a town in the Wimmera, in western Victoria, Australia. Nhill is located on the Western Highway, half-way between Adelaide and Melbourne. At the 2006 census Nhill had a population of 1915.-History:...
by a track through the Little Desert, in 1894, the railway reached Goroke from Natimuk
Natimuk, Victoria
Natimuk is a town in Western Victoria, Australia. It is located about 300km northwest of Melbourne. A further 10km west of Natimuk is one of Australia's best climbing areas, Mount Arapiles. At the 2006 census, Natimuk had a population of 449.-History:...
.
Description
The town is based around primary production, including woolWool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
growing and fat lamb and mutton production, beef cattle, cropping, forestry, wine grape production and yabby
Cherax
Cherax is the largest and most widespread genus of fully and partially aquatic crayfish in the Southern Hemisphere. Its members may be found in lakes, rivers and streams across most of Australia and New Guinea. In Australia the many species of Cherax are commonly known as yabbies...
cultivation. Education is provided by a P-12 college. The local newspaper, the Goroke Free Press is published weekly. Nearby Lake Charlegrark is the venue for an annual Country Music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
festival, held on the third weekend in February.
Education
The Goroke School was first opened on the 28th September, 1885. With only 10 boys and 10 girls Henry H. Pearson being in charge of the 20 students. The school is now known as Goroke P-12 CollegeGoroke P-12 College
-History:Goroke School was opened on 28 September 1885. The school first had a class of 10 boys and 10 girls. The original building was leased and of weather board construction with a shingle roof. The citizens of Goroke and district did not gain the present school complex with an unusual exertion...
with an enrolment of 108 students from prep through to year 12
Sports
The Goroke bowling club was formed in 1952 and the clubhouse was built in 1953.In football, one of the earliest games recorded was between Natimuk and Goroke, played at Spring Hill on 13 February 1890. Goroke has played in various leagues over the years; it merged with Border Districts in 1999 to play in the Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League
Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League
The Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia, Australia. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League...
.
Goroke has had many tennis teams over the years hosting its own league. The tennis club now has a senior and a junior team which play in the Kowree Tennis Association.
The Goroke Gun Club conducts several shoots each year. The main events are the Goroke show day shoot and the pre-Christmas one.
The Golf course was first laid out at the Recreation Reserve and showgrounds in the 1920s. Golf was played on the course until the war, the club was reformed in the late 1950s on the Compston property on the Natimuk Road. After a period of recess it moved to its current location on the Goroke Nhill Road in 1978, the final of the 18 sandscrape holes being officially opened in 1988.
A cycling club did exist during the 1930s in Goroke but there are no records that remain.
There was a swimming club that was formed during the thirties when concrete work for the pool was undertaken. Due to the earth movement the concrete cracked and it was not safe for public use. The existing pool was opened in 1973 and has several improvements made including the addition of solar heating in 2008.
Cricket in Goroke was played from 1934-40 in a competition between Miga Lake, Karnak, Gymbowen and two teams from Goroke. Goroke now fields one senior team in the Horsham Cricket Association.
Environment
There are many small wetlands in the district, and the town lies close to the Natimuk-Douglas WetlandsNatimuk-Douglas Wetlands
The Natimuk-Douglas Wetlands comprise a chain of freshwater, brackish and saline wetlands in the semi-arid Wimmera region of western Victoria. Australia...
Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
, so identified by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
because of its importance for a variety of waterbirds.