Dimboola, Victoria

Dimboola Victoria
Shops in Dimboola
Dimboola
Population:	1863(2006)[1]
Postcode:	3414
Coordinates:	36°27′S 142°01′E / 36.45°S 142.017°E / -36.45; 142.017Coordinates: 36°27′S 142°01′E / 36.45°S 142.017°E / -36.45; 142.017
Location:	337 km (209 mi) from Melbourne 391 km (243 mi) from Adelaide 39 km (24 mi) from Horsham 39 km (24 mi) from Nhill
LGA:	Shire of Hindmarsh
State District:	Lowan
Federal Division:	Mallee

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 contractor Frederick Smith of Ararat, a plan for a township in the County of Dimboola was proposed. It was first recognized as being a township when mentioned in the April 1863 edition of the 'Government Gazette". At the 2006 census Dimboola had a population of 1863.

Before the arrival of white men into the district, the Aborigines called the area Watchegatcheca which had the meaning 'Wattle Tree and White Cockatoos'. The name 'Dimboola' has generally been accepted to have come from the Ceylonese ~Dimbula meaning 'Land of Figs'. This name came from the District Surveyor of the time John George Winchester Wilmot, who had previously lived in Ceylon (now Sri lanka). The relationship of the name to this area is suggested to have come from 'Upper Regions Station' where an ubundance of fruit trees grew in the garden, many of which were Figs.

The Post Office opened on 3 April 1863, but was known as Nine Creeks until 1869.^[2]

Dimboola's economy is predominantly rural, with wheat, sheep and timber being traditionally important, although there have been recent forays into emu and alpaca rearing and olive plantations.

Paintings of Dimboola landscapes by noted Australian painter Sidney Nolan, who was stationed in the area while on army duty in World War II, can be found in the National Gallery of Victoria. Dimboola is also the setting of the play (and subsequent film) Dimboola by Jack Hibberd.

The town's secondary college, is the only memorial secondary college in the Southern Hemisphere, hence its name, Dimboola Memorial Secondary College.^{[citation needed][dubious – discuss]} Distinguished Australian-British physicist Richard Dalitz was born in Dimboola.

The Dimboola Show is held on the third Thursday in Oct and coincides with Caulfield Cup Day.

Transport

The Dimboola railway station has V/Line coach services. The Overland stops at the station thrice per week.

Sport

Dimboola has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Wimmera Football League.^[3]

Golfers play at the Dimboola Golf Club on Riverside.^[4]

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Dimboola (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC25481&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2007-10-01. 
2. ^ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country=, retrieved 2008-04-11 
3. ^ Full Points Footy, Dimboola.htm Dimboola, http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/ Dimboola.htm, retrieved 2008-07-25 
4. ^ Golf Select, Dimboola, http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=962, retrieved 2009-05-11 

External links

• Dimboola and District Historical Society
• Dimboola Memorial Secondary College Homepage
• Information about Dimboola for Visitors