Red Cliffs, Victoria

Red Cliffs
Victoria

Post office
Red Cliffs
Coordinates 34°18′27″S 142°11′17″E / 34.30750°S 142.18806°E / -34.30750; 142.18806Coordinates: 34°18′27″S 142°11′17″E / 34.30750°S 142.18806°E / -34.30750; 142.18806
Population 4,596 (2006 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 3496
Location
LGA(s) Rural City of Mildura
Region Sunraysia
State electorate(s) Mildura
Federal Division(s) Mallee
Suburbs around Red Cliffs:
Irymple New South Wales New South Wales
Cardross Red Cliffs New South Wales
Koorlong Carwarp Iraak

Red Cliffs is a town in Victoria, Australia in the Sunraysia region. It is located on the Calder Highway, 16 km south of Mildura and 544 km north-west of Melbourne.

At the 2006 census, Red Cliffs had a population of 4596. The main industry is the growing of citrus fruits and grapes. Red Cliffs takes its name from the 70 m cliffs 4.5 km east of the town that have an apparent red/orange colour.

History

The area was first settled by Europeans in 1918. Following the First World War, over 700 soldiers settled in the town, and began work on establishing the vineyards which would become the town's chief industry. The Post Office opened on 4 August 1920.[3] More land was sold to soldiers following the Second World War.

Culture

Schools

Red Cliffs has three primary schools, Red Cliffs Primary School, Red Cliffs East Primary School and St. Joseph's Primary School and one secondary school, Red Cliffs Secondary College.

Sport

The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Sunraysia Football League.[4]

Golfers play at the course of the Red Cliffs Golf Club on 22nd Street.[5]

The town also has its own cricket association, the RCCA. The association has 3 grades and includes teams from the Sunraysia/Millewa and Ouyen areas.

Big Lizzie

"Big Lizzie", a large tractor
The cliffs at sunrise

Red Cliffs features a permanent public exhibit called Big Lizzie, a large tractor. Frank Bottrill was the designer, builder and operator of "Big Lizzie". One of its features was the use of the Bottrill Dreadnaught wheel which he designed, and which he also fitted to other machines. Botrill was inspired by his experiences in the 1800s witnessing the suffering of camels carrying heavy loads. The wheel was designed to work in sandy soils. The design was effective but was later outdated by the caterpillar track. When it was built "Big Lizzie" was the biggest tractor in Australia and thought to be the biggest in the world, at 34 feet high by 18 feet wide, and weighing 45 tons. It had two trailers also fitted with Bottrill wheels. [6][7][8]

Lunar Festival

The Red Cliffs Lunar Festival is held every March to celebrate the end of the grape harvest. The event includes a street parade, musical performances, street market, bicycle race and an evening outdoor film screening.[9] It is organised by the Red Cliffs Rotary Club.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Red Cliffs (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  2. ↑ Travelmate
  3. ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  4. ↑ Full Points Footy. "Sunraysia Football League". FullPointsFooty.net. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  5. ↑ Golf Select. "Red Cliffs". GolfSelect.com.au. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  6. ↑ Henschke, Ian (3 September 2000). "Legendary tractor lives large in local folklore". Landline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  7. ↑ "Big Lizzie". George Negus Tonight. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 June 2003. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  8. ↑ "Big Lizzie". 4WDonline.com. 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  9. ↑ Mildura Rural City Council. "Events 2011". Retrieved 3 October 2010.

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