Horsham, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Horsham is the largest city by population and regional centre of the Wimmera
region of Victoria
, Australia
and is approximately 300 kilometres (186.4 mi) north-west of Melbourne
via the Western Highway
. At the 2006 census
, Horsham had a population of 14,125. Horsham is in the federal
Division of Mallee
. Currently held by the National party, it is the most conservative seat in the country.
Horsham won Australia's Tidiest Town 2001, despite the ten year drought that was affecting the area.
Horsham is the main administrative centre for and the most populous city within the Rural City of Horsham
local government area
.
The main railway from Melbourne reached Horsham in 1879 and was later extended to Adelaide, while a branch line west to Carpolac was started in 1887 and closed in 1988.
The Horsham Borough Council and the Shire of Wimmera operated the McKenzie Creek Tramway from the town to a stone quarry, some 8 kilometres (5 mi) to the south. The horse tramway opened in 1885 and ceased operating in 1927. Special picnic trains operated from time to time conveying residents in open wagons.
to Adelaide
) and the Henty Highway
(from Portland
north towards Mildura
) cross paths with the Wimmera Highway
.
Horsham railway station
is on the main Melbourne and Adelaide railway. The Overland operates between the state capitals and stops in Horsham thrice a week in each direction for passengers. However, there is no direct connection to the Victorian broad gauge
rail network. Long interstate freight trains regularly travel through the town, and a local container freight service is operated by QRNational for Wimmera Container Lines. Until July 2008 it was operated by Pacific National
, who cancelled it in April then gave it a three month reprieve.
V/Line
operates a coach service to and from Horsham from various areas. Melbourne bound passengers board a train in Ararat
to continue their journey. Public transport within Horsham is limited to the town bus service operated by 'Wimmera Roadways/Horsham Bus Lines', consisting of 2 buses and 5 routes.
The town is also served by Horsham Airport
.
, basketball
and other indoor sports.There is an Aquatic centre with a 25-metre heated pool and gym facility. Local team sports are a very popular way of exercising.
There are two football and netball leagues based around Horsham - the Wimmera Football & Netball League and the Horsham & District Football & Netball League. The town has three Australian rules football
teams competing in the Wimmera Football League
the Horsham Demons, the Horsham Diggers and the Horsham Saints. The Horsham Demons have had success in recent years having won the last 8 Wimmera Football League premierships until 2010. Kalkee
have been the biggest grand final winners in the Horsham District League, in both football and netball, over the past 50 years. There are various Volleyball facilities, with a weekly domestic competition run for enjoyment, and training programs run, in conjunction with Horsham's key secondary school, Horsham College. Teams from the College compete in the National Volleyball Schools Cup each year, and over previous years, have won various gold, silver and bronze medals, in both men's and women's, Division 2, Division 1 and Honours.
The horse racing club, the Wimmera Racing Club, schedules around five race meetings a year at Horsham including the Horsham Cup meeting in October.
Horsham Harness Racing
Club conducts regular meetings at its racetrack in the city, and the Horsham Greyhound Racing
Club holds regular meetings.
Golfers play at the course of the Horsham Golf Club on Golf Course Road.
and the popular rock climbing destination Mount Arapiles
. There is a tourist wool factory where it is possible to buy woollen products and view how top quality wool is grown in covered sheds.
There is a walk along the Wimmera River
, which is restrained by a weir
, but the water flow is rather intermittent, due to a drought
which also makes the farming industry harder for the farmers.
Horsham Botanic Gardens, located by the Wimmera River, were designed by notable landscape architect
William Guilfoyle
.
Wimmera
The Wimmera is a region in the west of the Australian state of Victoria.It covers the dryland farming area south of the range of Mallee scrub, east of the South Australia border and north of the Great Dividing Range...
region of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and is approximately 300 kilometres (186.4 mi) north-west of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
via the Western Highway
Western Highway, Victoria
The Western Highway is part of the principal route linking the Australian cities of Melbourne and Adelaide with a length of approximately 314 kilometres. It is a part of the National Highway network and designated as National Highway A8...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Horsham had a population of 14,125. Horsham is in the federal
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
Division of Mallee
Division of Mallee
The Division of Mallee is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the far north-west of the state, adjoining the border with South Australia in the west, and the Murray River in the north. At , it is the largest Division in Victoria...
. Currently held by the National party, it is the most conservative seat in the country.
Horsham won Australia's Tidiest Town 2001, despite the ten year drought that was affecting the area.
Horsham is the main administrative centre for and the most populous city within the Rural City of Horsham
Rural City of Horsham
The Rural City of Horsham is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the western part of the state. It has an area of 4,239 square kilometres. In 2006 it had a population of 18,492...
local government area
Local government in Australia
Local government in Australia is the third tier of government, administered by the states and territories which in turn are beneath the Commonwealth or federal tier. Unlike New Zealand, the US or the UK, there is only one level of local government in all states, with no distinction such as...
.
History
Horsham was surveyed and settled in the late 1840s, the Post Office opening on 1 July 1848. The first settlers were James Monckton Darlot and Charles Carter.The main railway from Melbourne reached Horsham in 1879 and was later extended to Adelaide, while a branch line west to Carpolac was started in 1887 and closed in 1988.
Transport
Horsham is where the Western Highway (connecting MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
) and the Henty Highway
Henty Highway
Henty Highway is a 360 kilometre highway in western Victoria, Australia. It's primarily a north-south route, and consists of a mix of 2 laned country highway standard and 4 lane arterial road within some of the larger towns along the route....
(from Portland
Portland, Victoria
The city of Portland is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Shire of Glenelg. It is located on Portland Bay.-History:...
north towards Mildura
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
) cross paths with the Wimmera Highway
Wimmera Highway
Wimmera Highway is a 345 kilometre highway that connects the towns of Marong, Victoria and Naracoorte, South Australia, through the major junctions of Sunraysia Highway, Henty Highway and Western Highway.-See also:*Highways in Australia*Highways in Victoria...
.
Horsham railway station
Horsham railway station, Victoria
Horsham is a railway station located in the town of Horsham, Victoria, Australia. The station is located between Railway Avenue and Mill Street and is next to Urquhart Street.-History:...
is on the main Melbourne and Adelaide railway. The Overland operates between the state capitals and stops in Horsham thrice a week in each direction for passengers. However, there is no direct connection to the Victorian broad gauge
Victorian broad gauge
Rail gauge in Australia displays significant variation, which has been an ongoing problem for transportation on the Australian continent, for over a hundred years.-Track gauges and route km:The most used gauges are Main gauges:...
rail network. Long interstate freight trains regularly travel through the town, and a local container freight service is operated by QRNational for Wimmera Container Lines. Until July 2008 it was operated by Pacific National
Pacific National
Pacific National is one of Australia's largest private rail freight businesses. Originally a joint venture between Patrick Corporation and Toll Holdings; it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Asciano Limited following the restructure of Toll Holdings....
, who cancelled it in April then gave it a three month reprieve.
V/Line
V/Line
V/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
operates a coach service to and from Horsham from various areas. Melbourne bound passengers board a train in Ararat
Ararat, Victoria
Ararat is a city in south-west Victoria, Australia, about west of Melbourne, on the Western Highway on the eastern slopes of the Ararat Hills and Cemetery Creek valley between Victoria's Western District and the Wimmera...
to continue their journey. Public transport within Horsham is limited to the town bus service operated by 'Wimmera Roadways/Horsham Bus Lines', consisting of 2 buses and 5 routes.
The town is also served by Horsham Airport
Horsham Airport
Horsham Airport is located northwest of Horsham, Victoria, Australia. The terminal is called the "Wade Memorial Terminal"....
.
Sport
Sport and fitness are well-supported in Horsham. There are two well-equipped gyms, a large indoor stadium with facilities for netballNetball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and other indoor sports.There is an Aquatic centre with a 25-metre heated pool and gym facility. Local team sports are a very popular way of exercising.
There are two football and netball leagues based around Horsham - the Wimmera Football & Netball League and the Horsham & District Football & Netball League. The town has three Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
teams competing in the Wimmera Football League
Wimmera Football League
The Wimmera Football League is based in Western Victoria, with clubs located in towns in the Wimmera region. The regional centres along the Western Highway from Ararat to Nhill as well as Minyip-Murtoa and Warracknabeal.The league is a major country league....
the Horsham Demons, the Horsham Diggers and the Horsham Saints. The Horsham Demons have had success in recent years having won the last 8 Wimmera Football League premierships until 2010. Kalkee
Kalkee
Kalkee is a locality in the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia. Kalkee is located on the Blue Ribbon Road, north west of the state capital, Melbourne and north of the regional centre of Horsham....
have been the biggest grand final winners in the Horsham District League, in both football and netball, over the past 50 years. There are various Volleyball facilities, with a weekly domestic competition run for enjoyment, and training programs run, in conjunction with Horsham's key secondary school, Horsham College. Teams from the College compete in the National Volleyball Schools Cup each year, and over previous years, have won various gold, silver and bronze medals, in both men's and women's, Division 2, Division 1 and Honours.
The horse racing club, the Wimmera Racing Club, schedules around five race meetings a year at Horsham including the Horsham Cup meeting in October.
Horsham Harness Racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
Club conducts regular meetings at its racetrack in the city, and the Horsham Greyhound Racing
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
Club holds regular meetings.
Golfers play at the course of the Horsham Golf Club on Golf Course Road.
Services and attractions
Tourism is not a major industry in the city, although it is near the Grampians National ParkGrampians National Park
The Grampians National Park is a national park in Victoria, Australia, 235 kilometres west of Melbourne. The Park was listed on the Australian National Heritage List on 15 December 2006 for its outstanding natural beauty and being one of the richest indigenous rock art sites in south-eastern...
and the popular rock climbing destination Mount Arapiles
Mount Arapiles
Mount Arapiles is a rock formation that rises 369 metres above the Wimmera plains in western Victoria, Australia. It is approximately 10 km from Natimuk, Victoria and is part of the Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park. Arapiles is a very popular destination for rock climbers due to the quantity...
. There is a tourist wool factory where it is possible to buy woollen products and view how top quality wool is grown in covered sheds.
There is a walk along the Wimmera River
Wimmera River
The Wimmera River is a river in Western Victoria, Australia. It begins in the Pyrenees, and flows into Lake Hindmarsh and Lake Albacutya, although in many years flows do not reach these terminal lakes and the river contracts to a series of pools of varying sizes...
, which is restrained by a weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
, but the water flow is rather intermittent, due to a drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
which also makes the farming industry harder for the farmers.
Horsham Botanic Gardens, located by the Wimmera River, were designed by notable landscape architect
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
William Guilfoyle
William Guilfoyle
William Robert Guilfoyle was a landscape gardener and botanist in Victoria, Australia, acknowledged as the architect of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne and was responsible for the design of many parks and gardens in Melbourne and regional Victoria.-Early life:Guilfoyle was born in Chelsea,...
.