Simpson, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Simpson is a small town in the Western District of Victoria
Australia. The town is in a dairy
ing region and lies about halfway between Colac
and the coastal fishing resort of Port Campbell
. Located in the Corangamite Shire
it is 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) south of Cobden
. At the 2006 census
, Simpson had a population of 813.
The town is named after H. L Simpson. the first chairman of the Soldier Settlement Commission. Prior to the formation of the Soldier Settlement Commission in 1946, the large bush land tract known as the Heytesbury Forest was under consideration as a possible settlement area.
Simpson is part of one of the most productive dairying centres in Australia. Dairying has become a major activity in the area and a significant contributor to the State’s dairying industry. The region consists of dissected plains exposing a range of land types with different topography, lithology
and soils. This results in a range of responses to land use and climate.
The town today services the needs of 400 plus farms, through Education, Health and Produce.
. In 1960 the first settlers took up their farms, Simpson Post Office opened on 4 September 1962 as the population grew, and by 1976 there were 378 families in occupation with further families to follow as more land was cleared. The amount of the Heytesbury Settlement developed to pasture was 43000 hectares (106,255.2 acre). The Heytesbury Shire established a committee to help promote the scheme in collaboration with the Colac Otway Shire councils. In 1946 an advisory committee was appointed by the Soldier Settlement Commission. This committee associated itself with several government departments with the intention of establishing an operation of an experimental area which was started in 1947. The potential of this country for pastures was overwhelming, the project commenced in 1956.
A 5 tonne steel land clearing "high Ball" was constructed from 19 mm (0.748031496062992 in) mild steel plate in 1953 by Hume Steel Pty. Ltd. In 1956 it was employed in Heytesbury Forest for all timber clearing operations on the 50000 hectares (123,552.6 acre) project until completion in 1971. In operation the ball was pulled by two 180 kW tractors one attached to 60 metres (196.9 ft) chains on either side. A tree pusher tractor followed to assist the pulling of larger trees.
.
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. The town is in a dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
ing region and lies about halfway between Colac
Colac, Victoria
Colac is a small city located in the Western District of Victoria, Australia, situated approximately 150 kilometres south-west of Melbourne on the southern shore of Lake Colac and the surrounding volcanic plains, approximately 40 km inland from Bass Strait. Colac is the largest city in and...
and the coastal fishing resort of Port Campbell
Port Campbell, Victoria
Port Campbell is a coastal town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Great Ocean Road, west of the Twelve Apostles, in the Corangamite Shire.-History:...
. Located in the Corangamite Shire
Corangamite Shire
Corangamite Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the south-western part of the state. Its largest towns, in order of size, are Camperdown, Terang, Cobden, Timboon, Port Campbell and Skipton. It has an area of 4,425 square kilometres. In 2006 it had a population...
it is 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) south of Cobden
Cobden, Victoria
Cobden is a town located 210 kilometres southwest of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia named in honour of Richard Cobden. At the 2006 census, Cobden had a population of 1813. At the 2001 census, Cobden had a population of 1419.- History :...
. 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,...
, Simpson had a population of 813.
The town is named after H. L Simpson. the first chairman of the Soldier Settlement Commission. Prior to the formation of the Soldier Settlement Commission in 1946, the large bush land tract known as the Heytesbury Forest was under consideration as a possible settlement area.
Simpson is part of one of the most productive dairying centres in Australia. Dairying has become a major activity in the area and a significant contributor to the State’s dairying industry. The region consists of dissected plains exposing a range of land types with different topography, lithology
Lithology
The lithology of a rock unit is a description of its physical characteristics visible at outcrop, in hand or core samples or with low magnification microscopy, such as colour, texture, grain size, or composition. It may be either a detailed description of these characteristics or be a summary of...
and soils. This results in a range of responses to land use and climate.
The town today services the needs of 400 plus farms, through Education, Health and Produce.
History
Simpson was part of the Heytesbury Settlement. The Heytesbury region was settled as part of a returned soldier programSoldier settlement (Australia)
Soldier settlement refers to the occupation and settlement of land throughout parts of Australia by returning discharged soldiers under schemes administered by the State Governments after World Wars I and II.- World War I :...
. In 1960 the first settlers took up their farms, Simpson Post Office opened on 4 September 1962 as the population grew, and by 1976 there were 378 families in occupation with further families to follow as more land was cleared. The amount of the Heytesbury Settlement developed to pasture was 43000 hectares (106,255.2 acre). The Heytesbury Shire established a committee to help promote the scheme in collaboration with the Colac Otway Shire councils. In 1946 an advisory committee was appointed by the Soldier Settlement Commission. This committee associated itself with several government departments with the intention of establishing an operation of an experimental area which was started in 1947. The potential of this country for pastures was overwhelming, the project commenced in 1956.
Parks
A park has been set beside a natural dam in the heart of town offering visitors the chance to learn about the development of the Heytesbury Settlement, a display featuring the large equipment used to help with the clearance of the Heytesbury Forest can also be seen here.A 5 tonne steel land clearing "high Ball" was constructed from 19 mm (0.748031496062992 in) mild steel plate in 1953 by Hume Steel Pty. Ltd. In 1956 it was employed in Heytesbury Forest for all timber clearing operations on the 50000 hectares (123,552.6 acre) project until completion in 1971. In operation the ball was pulled by two 180 kW tractors one attached to 60 metres (196.9 ft) chains on either side. A tree pusher tractor followed to assist the pulling of larger trees.
Education
The town has a primary school for children from prep to year 6. Secondary school students are bused to Cobden Technical School, Timboon High School , Mercy Regional College or Camperdown High School.Sport
The town has an Australian Rules football team playing in the Colac & District FLColac & District Football League
The Colac & District Football League is based in South west Victoria.-History:The Colac & District Football League was formed in 1937, as a result of a merger of the Colac and District FA and the Corangamite Farmers FA.Over the years, a number of clubs moved between the CDFL and other local...
.