Pomonal, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Pomonal is a town in western Victoria
, Australia
. The town is located in the Rural City of Ararat
Local Government Area, 245 kilometres (152 mi) north west of the state capital, Melbourne
. At the 2006 census
, Pomonal had a population of 350.
after the Roman goddess. As a result of another town in Australia with the same name, this was changed in 1904 to Pomonal. The Post Office reflected this change opening as Pomona on 25 December 1892 (closing 1895), re-opening as Mona on 1 August 1904 then being renamed Pomonal on 10 October 1904.
Thomas Mitchell was the first European explorer in the Pomonal area, camping near the future town site in 1836 before climbing Mount William
in the nearby Grampians
mountain range. Squatters
soon followed and the town site was part of the "Lexington Run". In 1866, the Frenchman Peter DeMay was the first selector
in the area, developing an orchard and small vineyard. The fruit industry developed from the 1890s, reaching a peak around 1913. From 1920, tobacco
growing started in the area. The Black Friday
bushfires of 1939 destroyed many of the orchards and tobacco properties. Today, while there is one remaining commercial orchard, Pomonal is mainly a grazing district.
In 2006 Pomonal narrowly escaped the disastrous Mount Lubra bushfire
. Due to the relentless efforts of residents and fire fighting crews from New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria the town remained a green island in the 130,000 hectares of land blackened by the fire.
and Halls Gap. Pomonal is serviced by V/Line
with an inter-town bus service operating 3 times a week between Warrnambool and Ararat
.
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...
. The town is located in the Rural City of Ararat
Rural City of Ararat
The Rural City of Ararat is the local government area in south-west Victoria, Australia. The region has an area of 4,230 square kilometres and is centred around the city of Ararat. The population of the region is approximately 11100, according to the 2001 census...
Local Government Area, 245 kilometres (152 mi) north west of the state capital, 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...
. 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,...
, Pomonal had a population of 350.
History
Reflecting the many orchards in the area at the time, the town was originally named PomonaPomona
Pomona was a goddess of fruitful abundance in ancient Roman religion and myth. Her name comes from the Latin word pomum, "fruit," specifically orchard fruit. She was said to be a wood nymph and a part of the Numia, guardian spirits who watch over people, places, or homes...
after the Roman goddess. As a result of another town in Australia with the same name, this was changed in 1904 to Pomonal. The Post Office reflected this change opening as Pomona on 25 December 1892 (closing 1895), re-opening as Mona on 1 August 1904 then being renamed Pomonal on 10 October 1904.
Thomas Mitchell was the first European explorer in the Pomonal area, camping near the future town site in 1836 before climbing Mount William
Mount William (Victoria)
Mount William is located within the Grampians National Park, approximately 250 kilometres west-north-west of Melbourne. It is situated on the eastern edge of the national park, approximately 22 kilometres drive from Halls Gap....
in the nearby Grampians
Grampians 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...
mountain range. Squatters
Squatting (pastoral)
In Australian history, a squatter was one who occupied a large tract of Crown land in order to graze livestock. Initially often having no legal rights to the land, they gained its usage by being the first Europeans in the area....
soon followed and the town site was part of the "Lexington Run". In 1866, the Frenchman Peter DeMay was the first selector
Selection (Australian history)
Selection referred to "free selection before survey" of crown land in some Australian colonies under land legislation introduced in the 1860s. These acts were similar to the United States Homestead Act and were intended to encourage closer settlement, based on intensive agriculture, such as...
in the area, developing an orchard and small vineyard. The fruit industry developed from the 1890s, reaching a peak around 1913. From 1920, tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
growing started in the area. The Black Friday
Black Friday (1939)
The Black Friday fires of 13 January 1939, in Victoria, Australia, were considered one of the worst natural bushfires in the world, and certainly the single worst in Australian history as a measure of land affected...
bushfires of 1939 destroyed many of the orchards and tobacco properties. Today, while there is one remaining commercial orchard, Pomonal is mainly a grazing district.
In 2006 Pomonal narrowly escaped the disastrous Mount Lubra bushfire
Mount Lubra bushfire
The Mount Lubra bushfire was started by a lightning strike in January 2006 near The Grampians in Australia. The fire began late on the 19th of January, 2006. By the time it was extinguished it had burned for approximately two weeks and covered approximately 130,000 hectares of land.The fire burned...
. Due to the relentless efforts of residents and fire fighting crews from New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria the town remained a green island in the 130,000 hectares of land blackened by the fire.
Transport
The town is located on the C222 between AraratArarat, 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...
and Halls Gap. Pomonal is serviced 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...
with an inter-town bus service operating 3 times a week between Warrnambool and 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...
.