Rainbow, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Rainbow is a town in north west Victoria
, Australia
, 400 kilometres (249 mi) kilometres 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.
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 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.
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.
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....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 400 kilometres (249 mi) kilometres from 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...
. The town is in the Shire of Hindmarsh and the nearest large towns are Warracknabeal
Warracknabeal, Victoria
Warracknabeal is a wheatbelt town in the Australian state of Victoria. Situated on the banks of the Yarriambiack Creek, 330 km north-west of Melbourne, it is the business and services centre of the northern Wimmera and southern Mallee districts, and hosts local government offices of the Shire...
, Dimboola
Dimboola, Victoria
Dimboola is located in Shire of Hindmarsh in the Wimmera region of Western Victoria, Australia, 334 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.Situated on the Wimmera River in the State of Victoria,the town of Dimboola was previously known as 'Nine Creeks'.Following a survey conducted in late 1862 by...
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:...
, all to the south. 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,...
Rainbow had a population of 497.
History
In 1898 the railway line was extended from JeparitJeparit, Victoria
Jeparit is situated on the Wimmera River in Western Victoria, Australia, 370 kilometres north west of Melbourne. At the 2006 census Jeparit had a population of 582.-History:...
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 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
Shire of Dimboola
The Shire of Dimboola was a Local Government Area located in the Wimmera region of western Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1885 until 1995.-History:...
until 25 January 1995, when the shire was then united with the Lowan Shire
Shire of Lowan
The Shire of Lowan was a Local Government Area located in the Wimmera region of western Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1875 until 1995.-History:...
.
The town was the subject of an episode of the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
television program, Enough Rope
Enough Rope
Enough Rope with Andrew Denton is a television interview show originally broadcast on ABC Television in Australia...
, with Andrew Denton
Andrew Denton
Andrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...
, 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
Jeparit, Victoria
Jeparit is situated on the Wimmera River in Western Victoria, Australia, 370 kilometres north west of Melbourne. At the 2006 census Jeparit had a population of 582.-History:...
, Rainbow has an football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
team, Jeparit-Rainbow, competing in the Mallee Football League
Mallee Football League (Victoria)
The Mallee Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Mallee region of northwestern Victoria. It is not to be confused with the identically named Mallee Football League .-History:...
.
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.
External links
- Enough RopeEnough RopeEnough Rope with Andrew Denton is a television interview show originally broadcast on ABC Television in Australia...
with Andrew DentonAndrew DentonAndrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...
: Rainbow (transcript), ABC TVAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, 31 July 2006.