Shepparton
Population 32,000
Shepparton is located in the Lower Goulburn Valley in the northern 'centre'
of Victoria, 178km (111 miles) north of Melbourne.
Climate
Average temperatures: January max 30C (86F) - min 14C (57F); July max 13C
(55F) - min 4C(39F). Average annual rainfall: 502mm (20 ins). Shepparton
averages more than 7 hours of sunlight per day.
Characteristics
Shepparton was declared The Solar City by the Solar Council in 1986, due
to the large amount of sunshine it averages, and the city has a solar
heated swimming pool (in summer), some solar powered street lighting
in areas, a solar powered telephone outside the Tourist Information Centre,
and some solar powered parking meters. It is the major city of the Goulburn
Valley, one of the food bowls of the nation. The area produces enormous
quantities of fruit, vegetables and dairy products, as well as cereal
crops, grapes, wine, beef, wool and lamb.
How to Get There By Rail
V/Line Trains have services Mon-Fri from Spencer Street Station in Melbourne,
hleaving at 9.10am and 6.15pm. On Saturday the trains leave at 9.10am and
6.10pm, and on Sunday at 9.50am and 6.05pm.
By Bus
Greyhound Pioneer stop at Shepparton on their Melbourne/Brisbane service.
V/Line coaches have services from Melbourne daily except Saturday.
By Road
From Melbourne, via the Hume Highway to north of Shepparton, then the Goulburn
Valley Highway.
From Sydney, via the Hume Highway to Benalla, then the Midland Highway.
Visitor Information
The Tourist Information Centre, Victoria Park Lake, 534 Wyndham Street,
(03) 5831 4400 or 1800 808 839, is hopen 10am-3pm daily. Further information
is available online at www.shepparton.vic.
gov.au and you can email visitor@ shepparton.vic.gov.au
Accommodation
There is a wide range to choose from, and here is a selection with prices
for a double room per night, which should be used as a guide only. &The
telephone area code is 03.
Parklake Motor Inn, 481 Wyndham Street, 5821 5822. 70 units, licensed restaurant,
swimming pool, spa, sauna - $116-176.
Pines Country Club Motor Inn, 103 Numurkah Road, 5831 2044. 20 units, licensed
restaurant (closed Sunday), swimming pool - $110-130.
Paradise Lakes Motel Resort, 7685 Goulburn Valley Highway, Shep-parton
South, 5823 1888. 26 units(private facilities), swimming pool, spa, bbq
- $80-115.
Tirana Motor Inn, 33 Wyndham Street(Goulburn Valley Hwy), 5831 1766. 24
units, swimming pool, bbq - $80-90.
The Bel-Air Motor Inn, 630 Wyndham Street (Goulburn Valley Hwy), 5821 4833.
30 units, licensed restaurant (closed Monday), swimming pool, spa, sauna
- $65-80.
Country Home Motor Inn, 11 Wyndham Street, 5821 7711. 15 units, swimming
pool, bbq - $65-80.
Overlander Hotel/Motel, 97 Benalla Road (Midland Hwy), 5821 5622. 30 units,
licensed restaurant, swimming pool - $65-70.
Apex Motel, Goulburn Valley Highway, 5821 4472. 16 units, swimming pool,
bbq - $45-50.
Victoria Hotel Shepparton, cnr Wyndham & Fryers Streets, 5821 9955.
37 rooms, licensed restaurant - $40-65.
Caravan Parks
Pine Lodge Caravan Park, cnr Midland Highway & Orrvale Road, 5829 2396.
(No pets allowed) - powered sites $19-22 for two, no on-site vans.
Shepparton Riverview Caravan Park, Melbourne Road (Goulburn Valley Hwy),
5823 1561. (Dogs allowed at manager's discretion) - powered sites $16 for
two, no on-site vans.
Strayleaves Caravan Park, cnr Mitchell Street & Old Dookie Road, 5821
1232. (No dogs allowed) - powered sites $16 for two, on-site vans $29 for
two.
Eating Out
Cellar 47 Restaurant, 166 -170 High Street, 5831 1882, is hopen for lunch
Tues-Fri noon-2pm, dinner Tues-Sat from 6pm.
Shepparton Family Restaurant, City Walk, 5821 3737, specialise in Chinese
and Australian smorgasbord - hopen for lunch Mon-Sat 11.30am-2.30pm, dinner
every day 5.30-9.30pm.
Parklake Motor Inn Cafe Bar Restaurant, at the Parklake Motor Inn, 481
Wyndham Street, 5821 5822, is hopen for dinner nightly from 6pm, and has
a dinner dance on Saturdays.
La Porchetta, 264 Maude Street, 5821 0800 - Italian and pizza.
Casablanca Pizza Restaurant, 125 High Street, 5821 1115 - takeaway available.
New China Restaurant, 55 Fryers Street, 5831 1166.
Calzoneys Restaurant, 30 North Street, 5831 3578.
Aloi Thai Restaurant, 630a Wyndham Street, 5831 6613.
Riviera Pizza Restaurant, 117a Wyndham Street , 5821 4402.
Pizza Hut is at 525 Wyndham Street, 5822 2111, and KFC has two outlets
in Wyndham Street at nos 620 and 465.
Points of Interest
Victoria Park Lake, near where the Tourist Information Centre is found,
has picnic, barbecue, water skiing, windsurfing and cycling facilities.
It is the leisure centre of the city.
The Eastbank Centre in Welsford Street, which houses the town hall, art
gallery, theatre and municipal offices, is one of the most outstanding
in any rural city in Australia. It was designed by architecture students
from the University of Melbourne.
The Shepparton Art Gallery, in the Eastbank, has an extensive collection
of ceramic works by well known artists, and around 150 paintings including
pieces by McCubbin. It is open 10am-4pm seven days, and admission is free,
5832 9861.
The Historical Museum, cnr Welsford & High Streets, is hopen on irregular
Sundays 1-4pm (5831 4400), and has exhibits of local memorabilia from Aboriginal
and European heritage to current events.
The Telecommunications Tower in Fraser Street, West Walk of the Maude Street
Mall, has an observation platform which allows 360 degree views of the
district. At the base of the tower is a Human Sundial, which accurately
tells the time when you stand on the point corresponding to the day's date.
Maude Street Mall is in the heart of the city and is a shopping centre
with many features including entertainment areas, loads of trees and flower
beds, and plenty of parking.
Shepparton Preserving Company (SPC), Andrew Fairley Avenue, has a sales
outlet open Mon-Fri, and factory tours during the canning season, January-April.
Driver Education Centre of Australia (DECA), Wanganui Road, 5821 1099,
has courses for people of all ages, and tours of the complex are havailable
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.
In the Shepparton Sports Stadium, near McEwan Reserve, is a Maze which
will keep all the family involved for a while.
Radio Australia in Verney Road, Lemnos, is home of the international broadcasting
station. Tours are by appointment only, 5829 9202.
The Dookie College of Agriculture and Horticulture, is midway between Shepparton
and Benalla. The buildings are situated at the foot of Mt Major, on the
fringe of the Goulburn Valley, and have excellent accommodation, conference
and seminar facilities, 5833 9200.
Festivals
The Sun City Festival is held over seven days in March/April, and the Shepparton
Show is in October.
Kialla West Strawberry Festival is held in November.
Facilities
Sporting facilities include horse-racing, trotting, greyhound racing, tennis,
squash, lawn bowls, golf, and water sports. There is a cinema, cnr Maude & Stuart
Streets, and a drive-in theatre in Melbourne Road, South Shepparton.
Outlying Attractions Numurkah
Situated 35km (22 miles) north of Shepparton on the Goulburn Valley Highway,
Numurkah has a population of around 3000, and is on Broken Creek. The town
is surrounded by mostly irrigated farmland, with a wide range of crops.
There is also wool and beef production, and a large dairying industry.
The town is about the same distance from the Murray River, and its attractions
include the Barmah Forest, Monichino Wines (5864 6452), Brookfield Historic
Farm (5862 2353), and of course, the Murray River beaches.
The Numurkah Visitor Information Centre is at 25 Quinn Street, (03) 5862
3458.
Tocumwal
This is the first New South Wales town on the Newell Highway, and is situated
on the banks of the Murray River. It offers a blend of old with new,
from Federation era buildings with stained glassed windows to modern
licensed clubs, business and accommodation developments.
The town has a population of around 1400, but this is regularly swelled
with visitors stopping off on their north or south journeys. There is a
golf club and a bowling club with first class facilities, restaurants,
and being in New South Wales - poker machines. The main street of the town
and the river are divided by parklands with camping sites, water skiing,
swimming, boating, sailing and fishing facilities, and houseboat cruises
departure points. About 2km from town there is a wartime aerodrome where
Sportavia Soaring (Gliding) Centre offers year-round gliding, 5874 2063.
The Visitor Information Centre is in Foreshore Park, (03) 5874 2131.
Benalla
Benalla is 61km (38 miles) south-east of Shepparton, at the junction of
the Hume and Midland Highways. The Visitor Information Centre is at 14
Mair Street, (03) 5762 1749.
Benalla was the base of operations in the 1870s for the Kelly Gang, and
many mementoes of the Gang can be found in the Kelly Museum in Bridge Street.
Enquire at the Visitor Centre about opening times. Benalla is also famous
for its roses, and from late October until early April the Benalla Gardens
provide the finest display of that bloom in the State. The Rose Festival
is held each November.
The Benalla Art Gallery, in the Benalla Gardens, 5762 3833, has an impressive
collection of Australian art, including several paintings from the Heidelberg
School by Roberts, Streeton and McCubbin.
Mansfield
Situated 63km (39 miles) south of Benalla, at the terminus of both the
Maroondah and Midland Highways, Mansfield is the gateway to the Mount
Buller alpine resort. The town is also close to the north arm of Lake
Eildon, and to Lake Nillahcootie, so in summer is a popular spot for
fishing, sailing, water skiing and white water canoeing. In winter the
skiers move into town. This area was the setting for the classic The
Man From Snowy River movies, and that beautiful scenery was not trick
photography, as visitors soon discover.
Call in at the Mansfield Visitor Information Centre at the Railway Station
on the Maroondah Highway, (03) 5775 1464.
Mount Buller www.mtbuller.com.au
The ski village is 47km (29 miles) from Mansfield, and is situated at 1600m
(5249 ft), with the highest lifted point at 1788m (5866 ft). There are
5 Poma, 8 T-bar, 4 Triple chair and 7 Quad chair lifts, with a capacity
of 38,500 people an hour.
The downhill skiable area is 162ha (400 acres), and is graded 24% Beginner,
34% Intermediate and 42% Advanced, with the longest run 2500m (2734 yds).
The Cross-Country areas are Village Loop (Beginner) and Corn Hill (Beginner),
with total trails of 10.9km (7 miles).
Lift Tickets: Day - adult $70, child (under 16) $40; Half day - adult $60,
child $30; Five day - adult $300, child $200; Seven day - adult $420, child
$280; Season - adult $1000, child $560.
Accommodation is available in the village area at Pension Grimus, 5777
6396 - $390-440 for a double room; and Arlberg Hotel, 1800 032 380 - DBB
one person $140 per night twin share. Contact Mt Buller Resort Management
for other accommodation options, (03) 5777 6077 or email info@mtbuller.com.au
Violet Town
Situated 13km (8 miles) west of Benalla, Violet Town is on Honeysuckle
Creek and at the foothills of the Strathbogie Ranges. It is the oldest
surveyed inland town in Victoria, having been surveyed in 1838, but there
was no permanent settlement until 1846. There is a caravan park, hotels,
a swimming pool, and many sporting facilities.
Head out to the Stonecrop Fine Art Gallery on Harry's Creek Road, 5798
1444, hbetween 11am and 5pm any day, and enjoy their dispays and garden
surrounds.
Euroa
Euroa is 45km (28 miles) west of Benalla. The Euroa district is steeped
in history from the time of early settlement in the 1800s, prospering
from people heading for the goldfields. The first flock of Saxon Merino
sheep in the State was driven overland from New South Wales to Euroa,
and since that time wool has played the major part in the development
of Euroa.
Seven Creeks winds through the town with parkland on both banks, and the "Seven
Creeks Run" has been established, a project depicting the history of the
wool industry. International shearing competitions are conducted in Euroa,
and Wool Week has become an event known throughout Australia. The surrounding
district, which includes Forlonge Memorial and Strathbogie Ranges, appeals
to the trout fisherman and the bush-walker.
Seymour
Situated at the northern foothills of the Great Dividing Range on the Goulburn
River, Seymour is 84km (52 miles) south of Shepparton, and only one hour's
drive from Melbourne. The Panyule Fauna Park & Tourist Information
Centre, on the corner of Seymour-Tooboorac and Pyalong Roads, can be
contacted on (03) 5799 0043.
A short distance to the north of the town is Mangalore Airport, originally
built as an alternate airport for Melbourne. It is now the headquarters
of the Australian Sport Aviation Council, and the Mangalore Air Spectacular
Show is held annually over the Easter weekend.
Attractions in the area include:
Trawool Valley has been classified by the National Trust for its scenic
beauty. There is an international standard resort, and tea rooms and a
gallery. The century-old former Trawool Chool is an art gallery, 5792 3118.
Riddy's Trawool Valley Tours, 5792 1654, is one way to see the area in
full.
Avenel is a small township on Hughes Creek, some 20km (12 miles) from Seymour.
It has a number of historical buildings, four of which have been classified
by the National Trust, and the grave of Ned Kelly's father. Look out for
the old Harvest 'Home Hotel, built in the 1860s and now a restaurant, 5796
2339.
Puckapunyal Army Camp is 13km (8 miles) west of Seymour, off the Hume Freeway.
The camp has the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Tank Museum, which may
be viewed 10am-4pm daily, 5793 7285.
Nagambie
The gateway to the Goulburn Valley, Nagambie is 28km (17 miles) north of
Seymour. The township was founded in the mid-19th century and has a number
of important historical buildings, seven of which are classified by the
National Trust. The eastern shore of Lake Nagambie abuts the main street,
with grassy picnic areas on its banks. Buckley Park, at the southern
entrance of the town has a shady picnic area, boat launching ramp, and
swimming area.
Lake Nagambie was created by the construction of the Goulburn Weir, which
was built with manual labour in 1890. The River and Lake combine to offer
over 40km (25 miles) of waterways for boating, and there are many picnic
areas. The Nagambie Lakes Visitor Information Centre is at 145 High Street,
(03) 5794 2647 or 1800 444 647, and they have information on the many wineries
in the area.
