Murrayville

Overview

This Mallee town is described as the gateway to the Victorian outback. Murrayville is a thriving rural town frequented by four-wheel drive enthusiasts, naturalists and other visitors who come to see the area's wildflowers, wildlife, and sunsets. It is situated between the Murray Sunset National Park and the Big Desert State Forest.

History

Murrayville was settled in 1910 and named after the Premier of Victoria at the time, John Murray. Settlers lived in tents then erected shelters from materials at hand.

Despite having low rainfall, the area has reliable underground water. As well as grain and sheep, the area supports less conventional farming enterprises including olives, goats, permaculture and potatoes.

Places of interest

From July to December the local bush is ablaze with wildflowers, wattle in bloom and hop bushed covered in colourful seed pods. No need for a four-wheel drive. Some of the area's best wildflowers grow within the town perimeter.
Nearby Big Desert Wilderness Park and surrounds is home to diverse flora, including baksias, casuarinas, mintbushes, emu bushes, correas, blue start shaped halgonias, boronisas, heaths, tea trees, quangonds, small yellowstar shaped silver phebalium, hakeas, grevilleas and melaleucas.
Explore the local history with a trip out of the town to UNESCO award-winning Kow Plains Homestead at the nearby historic township of Cowangie.
The mallee scrub is home to abundant wildlife, including emus, kangaroos, Mitchell's hopping-mice and lizards. Many birds species are present, including wrens, honeyeaters, whistlers, parrots and mallee fowl.

Accommodation

1 x pub accommodation
1 x B&B
1 x caravan park

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Town statistics

Population 446
Distance from Melbourne 550 kilometres, 341 miles and 6 hours 10 minutes driving time
Road access Mallee Highway

Location Map

View map of Murrayville

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