Mooroopna

Mooroopna
Victoria

Main street of Mooroopna
Mooroopna
Coordinates 36°23′S 145°21′E / 36.383°S 145.350°E / -36.383; 145.350Coordinates: 36°23′S 145°21′E / 36.383°S 145.350°E / -36.383; 145.350
Population 7,813 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 3629
Location
LGA(s) City of Greater Shepparton
State electorate(s) Shepparton
Federal Division(s) Murray

Mooroopna /məˈruːpnə/[2] is a rural town located 181 kilometres (112 mi) north of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is on the banks of the Goulburn River opposite the larger town of Shepparton. The Midland Highway crosses the river between the two towns. At the 2011 census, Mooroopna had a population of 7,813.[1]

History

The name Mooroopna was used by the original Kaieltheban tribe living in the area and meant 'deep water hole'. This refers to a very deep part of the Goulburn River behind the old Mooroopna Hall. The Kaielthebans (population 50 in 1841) were part of the Yorta Yorta Nation living in the region before the arrival of Europeans.

Two entrepreneurs, Joseph Hawdon and Charles Bonney, camped on the edge of Gemmill's Swamp, close to Mooroopna, in January 1838. They were overlanding large herds of cattle and sheep from an area close to modern Seymour to Adelaide, about 1200 km by bullock dray along the Goulburn and Murray Rivers. Three years later, squatters settled in surrounding areas running sheep on the well-grassed plains. The first settler in the town was William Simmonds Archer who purchased land in 1860 and built his home/hotel in McLennan Street, overlooking the river. He was followed by W. H. Morrell who selected most of the remaining township. Early commerce flowed from revenue gained by punt owners at Shepparton and in Mooroopna, who exploited the traffic from gold fields in Bendigo to those in Beechworth. The Post Office opened on 19 April 1873.[3]

Thirty years later, the population had reached 812 and the town then prospered, hindered often by droughts and damaging floods. It is now the second largest urban area in the Goulburn Valley.

Mooroopna became a centre for local commerce especially after the beginning of irrigation from the early 1880s. The first school was opened in 1874, the first bank in the same year, the punt in 1875, the Mooroopna Hospital in 1876 and the railway from Seymour in 1880.[4] Like other country towns, Mooroopna became infested with hotels and churches, the influence and numbers of both having declined since the Second World War. Also, like other towns, Mooroopna lost young men to wars in South Africa, Europe and in Asia and has several memorials recording their names.

The Historical Society of Mooroopna was established in 1983 and exists to collect, collate and display items and material relevant to the history of Mooroopna and the surrounding district. The Society's museum and gallery is located at 30 Park Street, Mooroopna, the former Grutzner House nursing home, at the rear of the old Mooroopna Hospital.

Government

Mooroopna was originally part of the Shire of Waranga, proclaimed in 1865. With boundary changes it became a riding of the Shire of Rodney in 1886.

Separated only by the Goulburn River from Shepparton, the town resisted many moves for amalgamation, but was forced into union with its larger neighbour in 1994 with the creation of the City of Greater Shepparton. The total population is about 63,269 (30 June 2014), and is expected to increase to 81,378 by 2031.[5] The first councillors were elected in 1997.

Mooroopna is within the Victorian state electoral district of Shepparton and the Federal Division of Murray.

Industry

In the beginning, industry revolved around the processing of grains and fruit but, in the past 30 years, Mooroopna has become a desirable residential area for nearby Shepparton.

The town now consists of mainly residential areas, many parks and gardens and some factories. It is home to Ridley AgriProducts, and ED Parsons. It is a major player in 'The Food Bowl of Australia' and will have a critical place in the proposed freight and logistics centre, planned for Toolamba Road, south of the town.

SPC Ardmona closed its Mooroopna processing plant in 2011.[6]

Transport

Railway station and container terminal

V/Line services on the Shepparton line stop at the local railway station, which is also served by Pacific National operated container freight services for Patrick PortLink.

Schools

Child Care Centres

Preschools
Primary Schools

Secondary Schools

There is no TAFE or university in the town.However,the National Centre for Dairy Education,The University of Melbourne Shepparton Campus,and La Trobe University Shepparton Campus are all located in nearby Shepparton.

Community

Westside Performing Arts Centre, the home of many school productions by schools throughout the Shepparton area, as well as outside performers, adjoins Mooroopna Secondary.

Mooroopna HUB was recently built in the centre of the town. Offering a free library, and rooms to cater for group/club meetings. Mooroopna HUB is a wheelchair friendly environment.

Located one kilometre away is SPC Ardmona Kidstown, a playground as big as the MCG. The Kidstown Project was initiated by Geoff Allemand, a school teacher, who put the proposal to council in 1994. Kidstown offers a relaxed environment for adults and a perfect day out for the kids, with play equipment being made on site with the help of local groups, clubs and businesses.

Sport

During the football season, locals support the Mooroopna Football Netball Club (MFNC CATS), located at the John Gray Oval and competing in the Goulburn Valley Football League.[7] . Team colours are Navy Blue and White. Mooroopna basketball team "The Cats" wear black and red and play in the Greater Shepparton Basketball Association.

Golfers play at the course of the Mooroopna Golf Club.[8]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Mooroopna (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  2. ↑ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
  3. ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 2008-04-11
  4. ↑ Sid Brown (March 1990), "Tracks Across the State", Newsrail, Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division), pp. 71–76.
  5. ↑ City of Greater Shepparton
  6. ↑ Sue Mitchell (2013-05-01). "Canning not so peachy". The Land. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  7. ↑ Full Points Footy, Mooroopna, archived from the original on 14 April 2008, retrieved 2008-07-25
  8. ↑ Golf Select, Mooroopna, retrieved 2009-05-11

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