Warracknabeal, Victoria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WarracknabealVictoria |
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Post office and war memorial
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 Warracknabeal
Location in Shire of Yarriambiack
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| Population | 2,745 (2011) | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3393 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 113 m (371 ft) | ||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Yarriambiack | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Lowan | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Mallee | ||||||||
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Warracknabeal is a friendly town in the north-west of Victoria, Australia. It sits right by the Yarriambiack Creek, about 330 kilometers (205 miles) north-west of Melbourne. This town is a busy hub for businesses and services in the northern Wimmera and southern Mallee areas. It's also where the main offices for the Shire of Yarriambiack local government are located. In 2011, about 2,745 people lived in Warracknabeal.
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History of Warracknabeal
The very first people to live in the Warracknabeal area were the Wotjobaluk, an Aboriginal group. The town's name is thought to come from an Aboriginal word that means "place of big gum trees shading the water hole."
The first European settlers arrived in the area and started large sheep farms. One of these was named Warracknabeal by brothers Andrew and Robert Scott. The town's Post Office first opened its doors on September 1, 1861. Back then, it was called Werracknebeal until 1885.
There are many old and interesting buildings in Warracknabeal. You can see a prison cell from 1872, which was built using red and yellow gum wood. There's also a Post Office built in the unique Tudor style, and several hotels from the 19th century. A tall, four-story water tower from 1886 is another historic landmark. The town also has a farm machinery museum that shows how farming has changed over time in the Mallee and Wimmera regions.
Nearby Places
Some smaller places close to Warracknabeal include:
- Batchica
- Challambra
- Mellis
Health and Schools
Warracknabeal has good healthcare services, with four doctors and a pharmacy. The local hospital is managed by Rural Northwest Health.
The town is also home to four schools, making it a great place for families:
- Warracknabeal Secondary College
- Warracknabeal Primary School
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School
- Warracknabeal Special Developmental School
Sports and Fun
Warracknabeal is a very active town with lots of sports teams!
- The town has an Australian rules football team called the Warrack Eagles. They play in the Wimmera Football League.
- The Warrack Eagles also have a Netball Club that plays in the Wimmera Netball Association.
- For tennis fans, there's the Yarriambiack Tennis Association. Teams from the town include Bangerang, Cannum, and Ailsa.
- If you like horse racing, the Wimmera Racing Club holds about six race meetings each year in Warracknabeal. One of the biggest is the Warracknabeal Cup meeting in February.
- The Sheep Hills Race Club also has two race meetings a year, including the Sheep Hills Cup in February.
- Golfers can enjoy a game at the Warracknabeal Golf Club.
- The St Marys Cricket Club plays in the Wimmera Mallee Cricket Association.
- Warracknabeal has three hockey teams: a senior men's team called Hoops, a women's team, and a mixed junior team known as Revengers.
How the Town is Run
Warracknabeal is the main center for the Shire of Yarriambiack. This means the local government offices are located here, on Lyle Street.
The old town hall and theatre complex, built between 1939 and 1940, is now used for important community events. It was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 2009 because of its historical importance.
Big Events
The town hosts a special event called the Easter Y-Fest every year. This festival includes:
- An Easter Saturday Street Parade.
- A three-day Vintage Machinery Rally at the Wheatlands Museum, where you can see old farm machines.
- A four-day Golf Tournament.
- A three-day Art Show.
- An Easter Saturday Race Meeting.
- A Waterski Spectacular.
The Easter Y-Fest started in 1988. It's organized by a special committee made up of people from different event groups and the local council.
Famous People from Warracknabeal
Many talented people have come from Warracknabeal, including:
- Nick Cave (born 1957), a famous musician.
- Jeremy Clayton (born 1981), an Australian rules footballer.
- Kyle Cheney (born 1989), an Australian rules footballer.
- John Hayes (born 1939), an Australian rules footballer.
- Jack Hibberd (born 1940), a playwright.
- Matt Rosa (born 1986), an Australian rules footballer.
- Graeme Schultz (born 1953), an Australian rules footballer.
Images for kids
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Former Town Hall
See also
In Spanish: Warracknabeal para niños
