Murtoa, Victoria

Murtoa
Victoria

McDonald Street, Murtoa
Murtoa
Coordinates 36°36′S 142°29′E / 36.600°S 142.483°E / -36.600; 142.483Coordinates: 36°36′S 142°29′E / 36.600°S 142.483°E / -36.600; 142.483
Population 991 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 3390
Location
LGA(s) Shire of Yarriambiack
State electorate(s) Lowan
Federal Division(s) Mallee

Murtoa is a wheat district town in Victoria, Australia, situated around Lake Marma on the Wimmera Highway, 305 kilometres (190 mi) north-west of the state capital, Melbourne. The town is in the Shire of Yarriambiack local government area. At the 2011 census, Murtoa had a population of 991.[1]

The name Murtoa is believed to come from a local Aboriginal word meaning "home of the lizard". Murtoa's post office opened on 1 August 1874.[2]

The working section of the present day Murtoa Grain Receival Centre can hold up to 400,000 tonnes of grain.

Murtoa's Lake Marma, situated in the centre of town, has always been a haven for wildlife and one of the most attractive lakes in the Wimmera. It is currently being improved with restored surrounds. A main feature is the 120-year-old avenues of sugar gum trees around most of the lake. There is a playground, BBQ, Rotunda and large lawned areas adjacent. Rabl park immediately to the North of Lake Marma is a series of waterways and ponds with attractive treed surrounds. It also incorporates a Skate Park, playground, 1896 Railway's walking bridge, BBQ and large grassed areas. Both Lakes are great fishing and recreational areas, with abundant birdlife and made walking tracks surrounding both.

The Stick Shed

Murtoa is the site of the largest rustically-built structure in the world, the Murtoa No. 1 Grain Store, known locall as the "Stick Shed". Because wheat could not be exported during the Second World War, a "temporary" grain shed, 270m long and 60m wide, was built in late 1941 and early 1942, using 560 unmilled tree trunks. These "sticks", braced with iron tie rods, are set in a concrete slab floor and support a hipped corrugated iron roof. The impressive cathedral-like structure was last used to hold wheat in 1989-90.

The Murtoa Stick Shed was heritage listed in 1990, and in October 2008 the Victorian government allocated funds to restore the structure. The Murtoa Stick Shed has become a significant tourist attraction but is still only open occasionally, usually during Murtoa's BIG Weekend festival in early October each year. It will be opened more often after access problems have been resolved.[3]

The Murtoa No. 1 Grain Store was added to the Australian National Heritage List in October 2014.[4]

The Murtoa No.1 Grain Store is an impressive and unusual example of Australian rural architecture; a form of design and construction rooted in the Australian traditions of bush ingenuity and the adaptation of traditional building techniques and materials. The corrugated iron and timber woolsheds across the Australian landscape are the most iconic depiction of this style of building ... The durability of this remarkable building is a testament to the bush skills and ingenuity of its builders and represents a rare and impressive example of Australian rural architecture and building technology to solve a difficult and large scale engineering problem.
— Australian Government Department of the Environment, [4]

Shopping

Murtoa's main shopping centre is located in McDonald St. and is a largely original c1910 precinct, with timber facades and verandah posts. It features a large Thrifty Link hardware store, hairdresser, IGA supermarket, licensed Post Office, fuel outlet and service station, cafe/coffee shop, Neighbourhood House, Op Shop, furniture restorer, firearms supplies, upholsterer and a few smaller mixed businesses, including a newsagents, clothing and haberdashery. A large new Medical Centre at the Wimmera Highway (Marma St) intersection is a major feature of the town, with many services offered and Chemist's outlet included. There is also a CBA Bank in Marma St with ATM. Duncan St has a fuel outlet, butcher's shop and a comprehensive delicatessen with hot or cold 'take-away' food. The restored Mechanics Hall is adjacent.

Murtoa also has some larger local employers, which includes GrainCorp, Schier Cabinet Makers, Solomit Strawboard.

Schools

Murtoa also has two schools, Our Lady Help of Christians {OLHC}, a Catholic school in Munro Street, and Murtoa College, a P-12 state school in Webb Street. There is also a kindergarten. Both schools feature many artworks, sculptures, innovative features and attractive surrounds.

Sport

The town has both Australian Rules football and Netball teams competing in the Wimmera Football League.

The Warracknabeal-Wimmera Racing Club, in conjunction with the local Murtoa/Marma Racing Club, schedules two race meetings a year at Murtoa, including the Murtoa Cup meeting in October and the Marma Cup on New Year's Day. From 2016, the Marma Cup will no longer be run on New Year's Day as this event was cancelled in conjunction with the local club and Racing Victoria. In lieu of this decision, Murtoa will host a mid week race meeting in July 2016. These two meeting are very popular with all Wimmera residents.[5]

Golfers play at the 18 hole sand-scrape Golf Course of the Murtoa Golf Club on Murtoa-Lubeck Road, just South of town. There are also excellent bowling greens, new tennis courts, quality sports ground with new clubrooms and netball court. There is an indoor stadium located at the College.[6]

Notable people

Murtoa was the birthplace, in 1912, of distinguished psychiatrist John Cade.[7] [8] [9] [10]

Chris Crewther MP, current Member for Dunkley in the Australian Federal Parliament, who attended school at Murtoa (Secondary) College between 1996 and 1999.

Hugh Delahunty, for Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1999 to 2014, representing Wimmera and Lowan, who was born and schooled in Murtoa.

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Murtoa (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 2008-04-11
  3. ↑ "The Mighty Murtoa Stick Shed". Leigh Hammerton, Murtoa. Retrieved 2013-09-2013. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. 1 2 "Murtoa No. 1 Grain Shed" (PDF). Department of the Environment (Australia). Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Murtoa/Marma Racing Club". Country Racing Victoria Ltd. Retrieved 2013-09-26.
  6. ↑ Golf Select, Murtoa, retrieved 2009-05-11
  7. ↑ Cade, Jack F. (1999), "John Frederick Joseph Cade: family memories on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his discovery of the use of lithium in mania", The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 33 (5): 615–618, doi:10.1080/j.1440-1614.1999.00624.x, PMID 10544983
  8. ↑ De Moore, Greg; Westmore, Ann (2016). Finding sanity : John Cade, lithium and the taming of bipolar disorder. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin. p. 324.
  9. ↑ Williams, Robyn (2016). Ockham's Razor Sunday 6 November 2016: Finding sanity. ABC Radio National.
  10. ↑ Fanning, Ellen; McCullagh, Cassie (2016). Life Matters Wednesday 31 August 2016: Finding Sanity - John Cade and lithium. ABC Radio National.
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