Rainbow

Overview

Rainbow is a small town of several hundred people situated in northwest Victoria at the southern end of the Mallee region. The town serves an area largely focused on farming.

Rainbow has some National-Trust listed buildings, a vibrant main street centrepiece, and iconic murals dating back to the 1930, while nature enthusiasts, anglers, boating enthusiasts and water skiers await the return of water to Lakes Albacutya and Hindmarsh. The district has also been the subject of documentaries featuring early farming life.

History

Rainbow was originally occupied by the Wotjobaluk people. 

The first land grant in the area was given to John Coppock in 1846, who went on to establish ‘Albacutya Station’. This station stretched from Lake Hindmarsh to the northern end of Lake Albacutya. Actual settlement of the town began when this property was subdivided for agricultural development in the 1880s, before the railway line was extended from Jeparit to Albacutya in 1898. A post office opened in 1900, and town blocks began to be sold in 1901. 

By 1910, it was known as the ‘Metropolis of the Mallee’, and its name was changed to ‘Rainbow Rise’ due to a nearby sand hill covered with wildflowers in the shape of a rainbow.

This town was the subject of an episode of the ABC television program 'Enough Rope' with Andrew Denton on 31 July 2006.

Places of interest

Yurunga Historic Homestead
St John’s Pella Lutheran Church
Lake Albacutya
Lake Hindmarsh
Wyperfield National Park
The Big Desert Wilderness Park
Stasinowsky’s Lime Kiln

For further information please contact Hindmarsh Shire Council (03) 5391 4444.

Accommodation

Rainbow offers a number of comfortable accommodation options including:

Pot of Gold Motor Lodge (03) 5395 1060
Rainbow Caravan Park (03) 5395 1062
Eureka Hotel (03) 5395 1001

For further information please contact Horsham Tourist Information (03) 5382 1832 or freecall 1800 633 218

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