Walpeup

Walpeup /wɔːlpiːˈʌp/ is a town in the Mallee region of north west Victoria. The town is in the Rural City of Mildura local government area and on the Mallee Highway and Pinnaroo railway line between Ouyen and the South Australian border, 458 kilometres (285 mi) north west of the state capital, Melbourne and 130 kilometres (81 mi) south west of the regional centre of Mildura. At the 2016 census, Walpeup had a population of 158.[1]

Walpeup
Victoria
The Mallee Highway at Walpeup
Walpeup
Coordinates35°08′10″S 142°01′30″E
Population158 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)3507
Elevation69 m (226 ft)
Location
LGA(s)Rural City of Mildura
State electorate(s)Mildura
Federal Division(s)Mallee
Localities around Walpeup:
Murray-Sunset Ouyen Ouyen
Torrita Walpeup Ouyen
Big Desert Patchewollock Patchewollock

History

The township was settled when the railway arrived, a full post office opening on 16 December 1912. The area of the locality contains the smaller area of Paigne which had a post office open from 1912 until 1916.[2]

Education

The Mallee Research Station at Walpeup was established in 1922 to research dryland farming in the Mallee. It is a campus of the Sunraysia Institute of TAFE. It also has a Bureau of Meteorology automatic weather station.[3]

Walpeup Primary School opened on 3 June 1912 in the "Little White Hall", with a one-room school building being built in 1914. A second room was added in 1927.[4] The school was "de-staffed" from April 2015, with the last five students having to transfer to Underbool school.[5]

Walpeup South State School (No. 3929), alternatively known as Hungry Hut, opened in 1912 and closed in 1951. The building was later moved and served as the dressing shed at the Walpeup Recreation Reserve.[6]

Facilities

The main tourist attractions in Walpeup are the Walpeup Memorial Hall (Glen Street) and the Dryland Gardens (Creagan Street). The Hall houses a large collection of historic photographs of locals who served in either World War, a "welcome home" banner from the First World War — only found within the last five years and now restored and displayed — and a hand-sewn community mural tapestry created in 1989. The Dryland Gardens, on the corner of Glen and Creagan streets, display many native trees and shrubs from around the local region and Australia, particularly a large variety of Eremophilas. The garden is tended by local volunteers.

Travellers can stay in their own caravans or tents at the wayside stop on the corner of Creagan Street and Murphy Road. The wayside stop contains a covered barbecue area as well as well maintained play equipment and lawn. Within 100 metres of the wayside stop is Shubert's Walk, a nature walk displaying many native trees and shrubs in their natural setting.

Sport

With its neighbouring township Underbool, Walpeup used to field Australian rules football teams (Walpeup-Underbool) in the Mallee Football League until the league was disbanded at the end of 2015. Golfers play at the course of the Walpeup Golf Club on Patchewollock Road.[7]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Walpeup (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 October 2007.
  2. Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 1 February 2021
  3. Mallee Research Station Walpeup retrieved 2013-09-03.
  4. What Happened To All The Schools?. Local History Resource Centre. 1989. p. 76.
  5. Twomey, Shannon (25 February 2015). "Towns under threat as more small schools fear closure". Weekly Times. News Limited. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  6. What Happened To All The Schools?. Local History Resource Centre. 1989. pp. 77–78.
  7. Golf Select, Walpeup, retrieved 11 May 2009

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