Koo Wee Rup
| Koo Wee Rup Victoria | |||||||||||||
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 Aerial photo from the southwest | |||||||||||||
| Population | 3,079 (2011 census)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3981 | ||||||||||||
| Elevation | 36 m (118 ft) | ||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Cardinia | ||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Bass | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Flinders | ||||||||||||
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Koo Wee Rup /ˌkuː ˌwiː ˈrʌp/ is a town in Victoria, Australia, 63 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. Its local government area is the Shire of Cardinia. At the 2011 Census, Koo Wee Rup had a population of 3,079.[1]
Prior to December 1994 the town was part of the Shire of Cranbourne.
Built on former marshland now converted to market gardens, the town has a population of about 3,079
The post office opened on 7 January 1891.[2]
In the early 1950s many Dutch and Italian families settled in the area. Prior to European settlement the area was occupied by the Bunurong Aboriginal people. It is from their language that the town's name derives. Ku-wirup is believed to mean "plenty of blackfish" or "blackfish swimming".
Koo Wee Rup is Australia's largest asparagus growing district. It is also a beef farming and potato growing area. The town was previously well known for its potato festival, which was held each March to raise funds for the Westernport Memorial Hospital (now Kooweerup Regional Health Service).
Schools include Koo Wee Rup Primary School, St John the Baptist Primary School and Koo Wee Rup Secondary College.
The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Ellinbank & District Football League.[3]
Transport
Koo Wee Rup railway station was formerly situated on the South Gippsland railway line that operated as far as a terminus at Yarram in the early 1980s, and was cut back to Leongatha in the mid 1990s. A V/Line road coach service replaced the rail passenger service to Leongatha on 24 July 1993, running between Melbourne and Yarram. However, since the closure of the South Gippsland rail line by the Kennett state government on 14 December 1994, the South and West Gippsland Transport Group, represented by the local council, have campaigned for the rail service to be reinstated beyond its current terminus at Cranbourne by the 2020s,[4][5] which had been promised by the Bracks government on its election in 1999.
Kingstons Tours operates a bus service from Koo Wee Rup to Pakenham on behalf of Public Transport Victoria.
References
- 1 2 "2011 Census QuickStats: Koo Wee Rup". Australia Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
- ↑ Full Points Footy, Koo_Wee_Rup, archived from the original on 11 October 2008, retrieved 25 July 2008
- ↑ Cranbourne Transit website, accessed 23 November 2006
- ↑ Rail return an election issue, 2013-12-17, South Gippsland Sentinel-Times
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Koo Wee Rup. |
- Koo-wee-rup (SMH Travel)
Coordinates: 38°11′53″S 145°29′20″E / 38.198°S 145.489°E