Little River, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Little River is a town in Victoria
, Australia
, 51 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district
. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Wyndham
and Greater Geelong
. At the 2006 Census, Little River had a population of 375.
It had been one of the Port Phillip Association
's pastoral runs (the first occupier being James Simpson
), and later a large part of the district was included in the Chirnside estate centred on Werribee. Early on small farmers had the benefit of an 80 km² common for grazing.
The Post Office opened on 1 February 1858.
The railway line though the town was opened in 1876, as part of the line to Geelong. The local railway station is served by V/Line
passenger services on the Geelong line.
was discovered and in 2011 described by an astrophysicist from the CSIRO as indicating the setting sun at the solstices and equinox. Although the age is unknown, it could range from 200 to 30,000 years.
Regional Park and the Little River Earth Sanctuary
.
Australian rock band Little River Band
is named after Little River after seeing the name on a road sign on their way to a gig
in Geelong. Some scenes for the Australian television series We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year
and Angry Boys
were filmed at Little River, although it was referred to as the fictional town of 'Dunt'. Little River also featured in the movie Mad Max
, with Little River Road being used as the movie's infamous "Highway 9".
Some parts of Little River, and surrounding areas where filmed in the successful television show, Blue Heelers
.
Also, in nearby, You Yangs
, the 2003 film, Ned Kelly
was shot.
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...
, 51 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district
Melbourne city centre
Melbourne City Centre is an area of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is not to be confused with the larger local government area of the City of Melbourne...
. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Wyndham
City of Wyndham
The City of Wyndham is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the outer south-western suburbs of Melbourne, between Melbourne and the regional city of Geelong. It has an area of and at the 2006 Census Wyndham had a population of 112,695....
and Greater Geelong
City of Greater Geelong
The City of Greater Geelong is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia.It is located in the western part of the state, south-west of Melbourne. It has an area of 1,240 square kilometres. In 2006 it had a population of 191,000...
. At the 2006 Census, Little River had a population of 375.
History
The Little River has headwaters in the nearby Brisbane Ranges. It was also known as the Cocoroc Rivulet, Cocoroc being a locality near the area. The road from Melbourne to Geelong once crossed the Little River and the Travellers Rest Inn was opened there in about 1839.It had been one of the Port Phillip Association
Port Phillip Association
The Port Phillip Association was formally formed in June 1835 to settle land in what would become Melbourne, which the association believed had been acquired by John Batman for the association from Wurundjeri elders after he had obtained their marks to a document, which came to be known as...
's pastoral runs (the first occupier being James Simpson
James Simpson (Tasmanian)
James Simpson was born in England and arrived in Van Diemen's Land in April 1825 on board the 'Elizabeth'....
), and later a large part of the district was included in the Chirnside estate centred on Werribee. Early on small farmers had the benefit of an 80 km² common for grazing.
The Post Office opened on 1 February 1858.
The railway line though the town was opened in 1876, as part of the line to Geelong. The local railway station is served by 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...
passenger services on the Geelong line.
Aboriginal History
In the vicinity of Mount Rothwell, near Little River, an semi-circular arrangement of rocks now known as Wurdi YouangWurdi Youang
Wurdi Youang is an Aboriginal stone arrangement located at Mount Rothwell, near Little River, Victoria at .The arrangement takes the form of an irregular egg-shape or ovoid about 50m in diametre with its major axis East-West...
was discovered and in 2011 described by an astrophysicist from the CSIRO as indicating the setting sun at the solstices and equinox. Although the age is unknown, it could range from 200 to 30,000 years.
Family Tree History
Thomas James Wilkinson and Katherine (nee Heher)were pioneers from England and Ireland, they married 15 July 1855, Christchurch Geelong,Victoria, and had their first Australian born child in this town of 'Little River'. Her name was Mary Wilkinson, b 5 May 1856, died a year later on 16 March 1857.Today
The township has a petrol station and post office, a primary school, a kindergarten, a pub, a bed and breakfast, a park, two playgrounds, a train station, a cricket ground and several churches. Visitors from Melbourne pass through the town on the way to the You YangsYou Yangs
The You Yangs are a series of granite ridges that rise to 364m above the Werribee Plain approximately 55km south west of Melbourne and 22km north east of Geelong, in Victoria, Australia. The main ridge runs roughly N-S for about 9 km, with a lower extension running for about 15 km to the west...
Regional Park and the Little River Earth Sanctuary
Little River Earth Sanctuary
Little River Earth Sanctuary is a 1185 ha protected area in Victoria Australia, near the You Yangs and the town of Little River. It is owned by Earth Sanctuaries, a publicly listed company that has conservation as its core role...
.
Australian rock band Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
is named after Little River after seeing the name on a road sign on their way to a gig
Gig (musical performance)
Gig is slang for a musical engagement in which musicians are hired. Originally coined in the 1920s by jazz musicians, the term, short for the word "engagement", now refers to any aspect of performing such as assisting with performance and attending musical performance...
in Geelong. Some scenes for the Australian television series We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year
We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year
We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year is an Australian mockumentary TV series created, written and starring Chris Lilley and directed by Matthew Saville.It follows the story of five unique Australians, who have each made a large achievement...
and Angry Boys
Angry Boys
Angry Boys is an Australian television mockumentary series written by and starring Chris Lilley. Continuing the mockumentary style of his previous series, the show explores the issues faced by young males in the 21st century – their influences, their pressures, their dreams and ambitions...
were filmed at Little River, although it was referred to as the fictional town of 'Dunt'. Little River also featured in the movie Mad Max
Mad Max
Mad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller and revised by Miller and Byron Kennedy over the original script by James McCausland. The film stars Mel Gibson, who was unknown at the time. Its narrative based around the traditional western genre, Mad Max tells a story...
, with Little River Road being used as the movie's infamous "Highway 9".
Some parts of Little River, and surrounding areas where filmed in the successful television show, Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
.
Also, in nearby, You Yangs
You Yangs
The You Yangs are a series of granite ridges that rise to 364m above the Werribee Plain approximately 55km south west of Melbourne and 22km north east of Geelong, in Victoria, Australia. The main ridge runs roughly N-S for about 9 km, with a lower extension running for about 15 km to the west...
, the 2003 film, Ned Kelly
Ned Kelly (2003 film)
Ned Kelly is an Australian drama film directed by Gregor Jordan. The film portrays the life of Ned Kelly — a legendary bushranger in northeast Victoria. Ned Kelly, his brother Dan, and two other men — Steve Hart and Joe Byrne — formed a gang of Irish Australians in response to Irish and...
was shot.