Halls Gap

Halls Gap
Victoria
Halls Gap
Coordinates 37°07′0″S 142°33′0″E / 37.11667°S 142.55000°E / -37.11667; 142.55000Coordinates: 37°07′0″S 142°33′0″E / 37.11667°S 142.55000°E / -37.11667; 142.55000
Population 613 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 3381
Location
LGA(s) Shire of Northern Grampians
State electorate(s) Lowan
Federal Division(s) Wannon

Halls Gap is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located on Grampians Road, adjacent to the Grampians National Park, in the Shire of Northern Grampians local government area. The town is set in the Fyans Valley at the foot of the Wonderland and Mount William ranges.[2] At the 2011 census Halls Gap had a population of 613.[1] The approximate driving time from Melbourne is 3 hours.

History

The first settler was Charles Browning Hall who set out in search of a suitable grazing run when he found the cattle market at Port Phillip overstocked in 1841. Establishing a station just east of the Grampians in a spot known as "Mokepilli" to the indigenous inhabitants (probably the Tjapwurong tribe). Halls Gap was originally located at where the now Lake Bellfeild Reservoir is now located.

By following aboriginal tracks he came upon the gap which now bears his name.[3]

Hall's Gap Post Office opened on 3 February 1893, closed in 1896, and reopened in 1902.[4]

Hall's Gap, The Grampians
The Flume in Hall's Gap, Victoria
Lookout in the Grampians

Today

Its chief industry is tourism, due to its location in the Grampians National Park. Australia's longest running Aboriginal cultural centre, Brambuk, is located in the town.[5] The Halls Gap Zoo is located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from town. There is now a local chemist in town located at the Stoney Creek shops.

Golfers play at the course of the Halls Gap Golf Club on Red Gum Lease Track.[6]

Food and Wine Festival

Halls Gap is home to one of Australia's longest running food and wine festivals, held over the first weekend of May every year. Launched in 1992, Grampians Grape Escape is a hallmark event for Victoria and provides food and wine offerings by more than 100 local artisan producers, live music and family entertainment. [7]

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Halls Gap (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Visit Victoria". Halls Gap. Tourism Victoria. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  3. ↑ Shawfactor. "Local history of Halls Gap".
  4. ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 2008-04-11
  5. ↑ "Visit Victoria". Halls Gap. Tourism Victoria. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  6. ↑ Golf Select, Halls Gap, retrieved 2009-05-11
  7. ↑ http://www.vic.gov.au/news/2014-grampians-grape-escape.html

Media related to Halls Gap, Victoria at Wikimedia Commons

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