Shepparton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SheppartonVictoria |
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Shepparton CBD, communications tower and "Mooving Art" display from Monash Park
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 Shepparton
Location in City of Greater Shepparton
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| Population | 53,841 (2021 census) | ||||||||
| • Density | 216.32/km2 (560.3/sq mi) | ||||||||
| Established | 24 September 1860 | ||||||||
| Gazetted | 28 September 1860 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 116 m (381 ft) | ||||||||
| Area | 248.9 km2 (96.1 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | ||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | AEDT (UTC+11) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Greater Shepparton | ||||||||
| County | Moira | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Shepparton | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Nicholls | ||||||||
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Shepparton is a city in northern Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Goulburn River, about 181 kilometers (112 miles) north-northeast of Melbourne. In 2021, Shepparton and the nearby town of Mooroopna had a population of 53,841 people.
Shepparton started as a sheep station and a river crossing in the mid-1800s. It grew a lot when the railway arrived. Today, it is a major center for farming and making things. It is also important for the Goulburn Valley irrigation system, which helps water farms. Shepparton is the main city for the City of Greater Shepparton area. This area includes towns like Tatura, Merrigum, Mooroopna, and Murchison.
Contents
- What Does the Name Shepparton Mean?
- A Brief History of Shepparton
- Shepparton's Geography and Climate
- Shepparton's Economy
- Arts and Culture in Shepparton
- Sports in Shepparton
- People of Shepparton
- How Shepparton is Governed
- Education in Shepparton
- Getting Around Shepparton
- Media in Shepparton
- Notable People from Shepparton
- Clubs and Associations
- Environmental Concerns
- Sister Cities
- See also
What Does the Name Shepparton Mean?
The name Shepparton comes from Sherbourne Sheppard. He was one of the first European settlers in the area. It is not named after Shepperton in England.
The local Yorta Yorta people call the area 'Kanny-goopna'. 'Goopna' means 'deep waterholes where people camped'.
People often call the city "Shepp" for short. This is common in Australia. For example, you might hear:
- "Are you going to Shepp for the holidays?"
- "I'm off to Shepp for work."
A Brief History of Shepparton
Before Europeans arrived, the Yorta Yorta people lived here. Their land covers the area where the Goulburn River and Murray River meet. Shepparton is on the land of the Kailtheban clan of the Yorta Yorta nation.
Early European Exploration
Thomas Mitchell was the first European to travel through this area in 1836. He crossed the Goulburn River. Later, in 1838, Joseph Hawdon and Charles Bonney camped here while moving cattle.
First Settlements and Growth
The first lasting settlement was the "Tallygaroopna" sheep station in the early 1840s. Sherbourne Sheppard managed this station by 1843. During the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s, many miners crossed the Goulburn River here.
Patrick Macguire started a punt service to help people cross. He built the town's first building, the punt house. This place became known as Macguire's Punt. A post office opened in 1854.
The area was surveyed in 1855. It was called Sheppard town, Sheppardton, and Shepparton. The post office reopened in 1858. On September 24, 1860, Shepparton officially became a township.
Railway and Modern Development
The railway arrived in 1880. This helped Shepparton grow quickly into a major center for making goods and providing services. By the early 1900s, Shepparton was a hub for many smaller railway lines.
After World War II, the city's population nearly tripled. Many new residents came from countries like Italy, Greece, and Albania. Many old buildings were replaced with new ones during this time.
Shepparton's Geography and Climate
Weather in Shepparton
Shepparton has hot, sunny summers and cool, often cloudy winters. The hottest month is January, with an average high of 32.1°C (89.8°F). In July, the coldest month, the average low is 3.4°C (38.1°F) and the high is 13.3°C (55.9°F). On February 7, 2009, a very hot day of 46.1°C (115.0°F) was recorded.
Shepparton does not get a lot of rain. The wettest month is November, with an average of 45.7 mm (1.8 inches) of rain. January is the driest, with about 30.0 mm (1.2 inches).
| Climate data for Shepparton Airport (YSHT) (1996–2022); 114 m AMSL; 36.43° S, 145.39° E | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 46.2 (115.2) |
46.1 (115.0) |
40.3 (104.5) |
35.1 (95.2) |
26.7 (80.1) |
21.5 (70.7) |
20.6 (69.1) |
24.8 (76.6) |
34.1 (93.4) |
36.8 (98.2) |
42.9 (109.2) |
44.9 (112.8) |
46.2 (115.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32.1 (89.8) |
31.0 (87.8) |
27.5 (81.5) |
22.6 (72.7) |
17.6 (63.7) |
14.2 (57.6) |
13.3 (55.9) |
14.9 (58.8) |
18.2 (64.8) |
22.3 (72.1) |
26.3 (79.3) |
29.2 (84.6) |
22.4 (72.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.5 (59.9) |
15.1 (59.2) |
12.5 (54.5) |
8.6 (47.5) |
5.6 (42.1) |
3.7 (38.7) |
3.4 (38.1) |
3.7 (38.7) |
5.4 (41.7) |
7.5 (45.5) |
10.8 (51.4) |
13.0 (55.4) |
8.7 (47.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 5.6 (42.1) |
5.0 (41.0) |
3.4 (38.1) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−5.9 (21.4) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
0.3 (32.5) |
4.0 (39.2) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 30.0 (1.18) |
34.0 (1.34) |
32.5 (1.28) |
35.4 (1.39) |
34.3 (1.35) |
38.8 (1.53) |
42.0 (1.65) |
44.8 (1.76) |
36.4 (1.43) |
30.9 (1.22) |
45.7 (1.80) |
31.9 (1.26) |
436.7 (17.19) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 5.2 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 9.8 | 12.2 | 14.7 | 12.7 | 9.8 | 8.3 | 6.9 | 5.8 | 100.7 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 28 | 33 | 35 | 43 | 56 | 66 | 68 | 61 | 53 | 44 | 38 | 31 | 46 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology. | |||||||||||||
Shepparton's Layout
The Maude Street Mall is the main shopping area in Shepparton. Wyndham Street is important for businesses and government buildings. A tall communications tower stands near the Maude Street Mall. It has a viewing deck where you can see the city.
Shepparton has nearby towns that are like suburbs. These include Mooroopna to the west and Kialla to the south. Shepparton East is to the east.
Shepparton's Economy
Shepparton's main jobs are in farming and making things. SPC Australia, a large company that cans fruits, has a factory here. They preserve fruits like peaches, pears, and apricots.
Other big companies in the city include Campbells Soup Company and Pental. Shepparton is also a major shopping and service center for the area. You can find many big stores here like Target, Kmart, and Bunnings.
The city is also a hub for important services. Most of the region's emergency services are based here. This includes the main office for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) District 22.
Arts and Culture in Shepparton
Shepparton has a fun project called Moooving Art. Local artists paint fiberglass cows, which are then shown around the city. This project celebrates the strong dairy farming in the area.
Kidstown is a large playground between Shepparton and Mooroopna. It has giant slides, a 35-meter (115-foot) flying fox, and a train ride.
The city has two performing arts centers, called Riverlinks Venues. There is also the Shepparton Art Museum, known as SAM. SAM has a big collection of Australian ceramics. It also features a cool sculpture called Woman and Child by Sam Jinks.
The Shepparton Festival happens every year. It brings together professional and community artists. You can enjoy live music, performances, and art. The Shepparton Theatre Arts Group (STAG) puts on plays and musicals each year.
Sports in Shepparton
Shepparton is home to the John McEwen Reserve, a large sports field. It has areas for soccer, Australian Rules Football, and netball. It is named after John McEwen, a former Prime Minister of Australia.
Australian Rules Football is very popular. Shepparton has five clubs, with three in the main league, the Goulburn Valley Football League (GVFL). Many talented players from this area go on to play in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Soccer is also popular. Shepparton has four senior clubs. The Goulburn Valley Suns Football Club plays in the National Premier Leagues.
Basketball is another favorite sport. The Shepparton Lady Gators play in the Big V competition.
Shepparton has a rugby union club called the Bulls. Cycling is also popular because the area is flat and has many bike paths. There is a velodrome and a world-class BMX track.
The Shepparton Harness Racing Club holds regular horse racing events. The Shepparton Greyhound Racing Club also has dog racing.
People of Shepparton
Population and Diversity
In 2021, 53,841 people lived in Shepparton - Mooroopna. About 4.3% of the population were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Most people (73.1%) were born in Australia. Other countries of birth include India, Afghanistan, and England.
English is spoken at home by 72.1% of people. Other languages include Punjabi, Arabic, and Italian.
Religions in Shepparton
Many different religions are practiced in Shepparton. The most common responses for religion were No Religion (33.4%), Catholic (22.3%), and Anglican (8.3%). Christianity was the largest religious group overall.
Shepparton has a multicultural Muslim community of about 3,500 people. There are four mosques in the city. The Shepparton Albanian Mosque was built in the late 1950s and is the oldest mosque in Victoria.
How Shepparton is Governed
Shepparton is the main center for the City of Greater Shepparton Local Government Area. The local council was formed in 1994. It has nine councillors who are elected every four years.
For state politics, Shepparton is in the Shepparton district. For federal politics, it is in the Division of Nicholls.
The police headquarters for the region are in Welsford Street. Justice is handled at the Shepparton Courts complex.
Education in Shepparton
Shepparton has many primary schools, both state and Catholic. There are also two schools for students with disabilities.
In 2020, four secondary schools merged to form the Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC). There are also Catholic and private secondary schools.
The University of Melbourne has a School of Rural Health here. La Trobe University also has a campus offering many degree programs. The Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE has three campuses in Shepparton, offering vocational training.
Getting Around Shepparton
Shepparton is located where the Midland Highway and the Goulburn Valley Highway meet. The Peter Ross-Edwards Causeway connects Shepparton to Mooroopna.
V/Line runs bus services to other towns like Wangaratta and Bendigo. There are also bus services within Shepparton and to Mooroopna.
The Shepparton railway station has train services to and from Melbourne. Shepparton Airport is south of the city and is home to Gawne Aviation.
Media in Shepparton
Newspapers
The Shepparton Adviser is a free newspaper delivered weekly to many homes and businesses. The Shepparton News is a paid daily newspaper. The Country News, also from the same publisher, focuses on farming news.
Radio Stations
Shepparton has many radio stations, including:
- Radio National 621 AM / 756 AM (news, current affairs, arts)
- ABC Radio Melbourne 774 AM (news and talk)
- Triple J 94.5 FM (youth radio)
- Triple M Goulburn Valley 95.3 FM (commercial)
- Hit96.9 96.9 FM (commercial)
- ABC Shepparton 97.7 FM (local news and talk)
- ONE FM 98.5 FM (community radio)
Television Stations
Shepparton receives television from three commercial networks and two public services:
These networks offer many digital channels. Local news updates are provided by WIN Television, Network 10, and the Seven Network.
Notable People from Shepparton
- Adam Briggs – Musician
- Anson Cameron – Author
- Adam Donovan – Musician (Augie March)
- Joseph Furphy – Author
- Amanda Garner – Ballroom dancer
- John Longstaff – Painter
- Michael Barlow – Australian rules footballer
- Alou Kuol – Footballer
- Aiden Blizzard – Cricketer
- Will Brodie – Australian rules footballer
- Shaun Hart – Australian rules footballer
- Jarman Impey – Australian rules footballer
- Jarrod Lyle – Golfer
- Cortnee Vine – Soccer player for Australia
Clubs and Associations
- Shepparton Toastmasters (public speaking)
- Goulburn Valley Chinese Association (social connection)
- Shepparton Chess Club
Environmental Concerns
The Wastewater Treatment facility in Shepparton has had a strong smell for many years. Improvements have been made, but the smell can still be an issue.
Sister Cities
Novato, United States
See also
In Spanish: Shepparton para niños
