Nhill, Victoria

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Nhill
state = vic


caption =
lga = Shire of Hindmarsh
postcode = 3418
est =
pop = 2550 (2006)Census 2006 AUS | id = SSC26343 | name = Nhill (State Suburb) | accessdate = 2007-10-01 | quick = on]
elevation= 133.0
maxtemp = 21.5
mintemp = 8.0
rainfall = 415.3
stategov = Lowan
fedgov = Mallee
dist1 = 374
location1= Melbourne
dist2 = 353
location2= Adelaide
dist3 = 76
location3= Horsham
dist4= 39
location4= Dimboola

Nhill is a town in the Wimmera, in western Victoria, Australia. Nhill is located on the Western Highway, half-way between Adelaide and Melbourne. At the 2006 census Nhill had a population of 2550.

History

The area has been home to the Wotjobaluk Aboriginal people for thousands of years and was first visited by Europeans in 1845. Brothers Frank and John Oliver decided to build a sawmill on Crown land beside the Dimboola-Lawloit road, the township of Nhill grew from there.cite book| first=Frank | last= Bound |title=Nhill's Fabulous Century |isbn=0 9594744 0 4|date=1980|publisher=Hedges & Bell Pty. Ltd|location=Maryborough, Vic]

Cobb and Co coaches serviced Nhill from 1883.

The name "Nhill" comes from the Wotjobaluk word meaning 'mist over water'.Fact|date=January 2007

Nhill Post Office opened on 1 January 1881. An earlier rural office (1861) was replaced by Lawloit Post Office Citation
last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country= | accessdate = 2008-04-11 ]

Nhill was the first Victorian town after the state capital, Melbourne, to be supplied with electricity. Electric lighting was installed by 1892.

Current description

Nhill is the administrative headquarters for Shire of Hindmarsh and its 2000 residents are mainly employed in either farming or food processing, most notably in grain and fowl. The two major employers in the town are Luv-a-Duck (and associated businesses) and Lowan Wholefoods. Tourism is another local industry; Nhill services the highway traffic passing through. Most of the inhabitants are Lutheran, but Anglican, Catholic, Uniting and Presbyterian churches also operate in the town.

The release of the film "Road to Nhill" in 1997 briefly placed Nhill in the national spotlight.

Nhill was the birthplace of Masters Australian football (Superules).

Education

Nhill has a Lutheran Primary school, A Catholic Primary School and a P-12 public school.

Transport

Nhill, Victoria is serviced by The Overland that stops thrice a week. Air services are at Nhill Airport.

Attractions

Nhill has a 3 local hotels, The Commercial Hotel, The Farmers Arms Hotel and The Union Hotel, with The Commercial being the most popular with both locals and travellers.

port

Nhill has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Wimmera Football League.

Notable people

Nhill is the hometown of Australian rules football player Jason McCartney, who suffered severe injuries during the 2002 Bali terrorist bombing, and later recovered enough to make a comeback to the sport.

Nhill is also the birthplace of Janet Powell, leader of the Australian Democrats between 1990 and 1991; and Senator for Victoria between 1986 and 1993.
*David Flood (Footballer, Essendon)
*Dean Wallis (Footballer, Essendon)

References