Natimuk
Natimuk | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Natimuk | |
| Coordinates: 36°45′S 141°57′E / 36.750°S 141.950°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Victoria |
| LGA | |
| Location | |
| Government | |
| • State electorate | |
| • Federal division | |
| Population | |
| • Total | 421 (UCL 2021)[1] |
| Postcode | 3409 |
Natimuk is a town in Western Victoria, Australia, located about 300 kilometres (190 mi) northwest of Melbourne. A further 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Natimuk is one of Australia's best climbing areas, Mount Arapiles. In the 2021 census, the population was recorded as 421.
History
[edit]The local post office opened as "Natimuk Creek" on 1 July 1874 and was renamed "Natimuk" in 1884.[2]
A railway line, built in a number of sections, once connected Horsham and Hamilton, running via Cavendish, Balmoral and East Natimuk until their closures in 1986 and 1988.[3]
The Natimuk Court of Petty Sessions closed in 1965, with the former courthouse subsequently being used by the local historical society.[4]
In 2004 Natimuk hosted 10000 people for Triple J's One Night Stand.[citation needed]
On 9 January 2026, a fast-moving grassfire that started in catastrophic fire danger weather conditions at Grass Flat burnt through 8,000 ha (20,000 acres) of land around Natimuk, and destroyed 17 homes.[5]
Description
[edit]Natimuk located about 300 kilometres (190 mi) northwest of Melbourne.[citation needed]
The town has traditionally survived as a rural service centre for the surrounding grain and sheep farming community.[citation needed] It has diversified into tourism and staved off the decline common in other Wimmera towns.[citation needed]
People from all over the world flock to Natimuk because of the rock climbing at Mount Arapiles, located 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Natimuk, and the nearby Grampians.[citation needed]
Demographics
[edit]In the 2021 census, the population of Natimuk was recorded as 421, of whom 54.8% were female. The median age was 55.[6]
Natimuk's arts-friendly focus has attracted and supported artists from nearby regions or urban areas to settle in the town.[citation needed]
Sport
[edit]The town has traditionally had strong Netball teams - The Ewes. Natimuk also fields three or four Australian Rules teams who compete in the Horsham & District Football League.[citation needed]
Golfers play at the course of the Natimuk Golf Club at Mount Arapiles State Park.[7]
There is also a lawn bowls club, tennis club, cricket club,[citation needed] and gymnastics club].[8]
Environment
[edit]
There are many small wetlands in the district, and the town lies close to the Natimuk-Douglas Wetlands Important Bird Area, so identified by BirdLife International because of its importance for a variety of waterbirds.[9]
Events
[edit]Nati Frinj is hosted in the first weekend of November during each odd-numbered year in town. The festival includes music, food, visual art, performances, and various other events.[10]
Around 60 rock climbers (locally known as goats) have made Natimuk their home due to the climbing and lifestyle. As of 2016[update]Natimuk also hosts Goatfest, an annual climbing film festival, which coincides with the influx of climbers over the Easter holidays.[11]
References
[edit]- ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Natimuk (urban centre and locality)". Australian Census 2021.
- ↑ Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 20 February 2021
- ↑ "The Horsham - Hamilton via Balmoral Railway" Turton, Keith W. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin July, 1968 pp153-171
- ↑ "Special Report No. 4 - Court Closures in Victoria" (PDF). Auditor-General of Victoria. 1986. p. 60. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ↑ Davis, Jess; Lim, Alex; Lauder, Jo; Rimrod, Fran (16 January 2026). "Natimuk fire offers a glimpse into a new kind of bushfire fuelled by our changing climate". ABC News. Archived from the original on 17 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ "2021 Natimuk (L), Census All persons QuickStats". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ Golf Select, Natimuk, retrieved 11 May 2009
- ↑ Natimuk Gymnastics Club
- ↑ "IBA: Natimuk-Douglas Wetlands". Birdata. Birds Australia. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Nati Frinj Biennale". natifrinj.com. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ↑ Simon Mentz; Glenn Tempest (2016). Arapiles Selected Climbs (3rd ed.). Open Spaces Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9875264-2-7.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Natimuk at Wikimedia Commons
Localities in the Rural City of Horsham | ||
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^ - Territory divided with another LGA | ||