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Birchip is a town in the Mallee region of Victoria, Australia on the Sunraysia Highway north of Donald. The town is located in the Shire of Buloke local government area. At the 2021 census, Birchip had a population of 694, down from the 2016 figure of 702.[1] It has a P-12 school, and an Australian rules football club called Birchip-Watchem, also known as the Birchip-Watchem Bulls, or just the "Bulls".[2][3]
| Birchip Victoria | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The main street of Birchip | |||||||||||||||
  Birchip | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°59′0″S 142°56′0″E / 35.98333°S 142.93333°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 694 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3483 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 102 m (335 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Buloke | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Mildura | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Mallee | ||||||||||||||
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History
editA pastoral run was established in the region named Wirmburchep [4] and when surveyed a parish was gazetted as Wirmbirchip.
Closer settlement began in the area by then known as around 1882 and a Post Office under that name opened on 2 July 1883 (Birchip from 1 January 1890).[5] The town was surveyed as Birchip in 1887 though known by the inhabitants by the original name for quite some years later.
Birchip Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1983, though the court had not sat in Birchip since 1973.[6]
Birchip today
editThe farms in the area typically grow wheat, barley, canola, and other cereals. Some people have pig sheds, though most livestock in the district are sheep. There is a hospital which shares a lodge for elderly care.[7]
Five main roads enter the town. It is located approximately 312 kilometres (194 mi) northwest of Victoria's capital city Melbourne. A road passes through Birchip that divides the Wimmera region of Victoria (to the south) from the Mallee region of Victoria (to the north). To travel to Birchip from Melbourne there are two preferred routes, one via the outskirts of Ballarat via the Sunraysia Highway and one around Bendigo via the Calder Highway. Each route's travel times are similar and the Ballarat route is more mountainous in some areas. There is an aerodrome for light aircraft.
With its neighbouring township Watchem Birchip has a football team (Birchip-Watchem) competing in the North Central Football League.
Golfers play at the Birchip Golf Club on Watson Street.[8]
Most sport in Birchip is played at the Birchip Community Leisure Centre (BCLC). The BCLC is home to Australian rules football, netball, hockey, cricket, tennis, golf and squash.
References
edit- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Birchip (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "Birchip P-12 School". Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ "Birchip-Watchem Bulls". Archived from the original on 6 February 2005. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ Butler and Brooke's National Directory of Victoria for 1866-67, section: Squatting Directory. Victoria. 1866.
- ^ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
- ^ "Special Report No. 4 - Court Closures in Victoria" (PDF). Auditor-General of Victoria. 1986. p. 80. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "East Wimmera Health Services". Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ Golf Select, Birchip, retrieved 11 May 2009
External links
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