Jeparit, Victoria

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

---

caption = Antwerp Weir, Wimmera River
lga = Shire of Hindmarsh
coordinates =
postcode = 3423
est =
pop = 582 (2006)Census 2006 AUS | id = SSC25829 | name = Jeparit (State Suburb) | accessdate = 2007-10-01 | quick = on]
elevation= 85
maxtemp = 22.3
mintemp = 8.6
rainfall = 381.9
stategov = Lowan
fedgov = Mallee
dist1 = 375
dir1 = NW
location1= Melbourne
dist2 = 73
dir2 = N
location2= Horsham
dist3 = 46
dir3 = W
location3= Warracknabeal
dist4 = 38
dir4 = N
location4= Dimboola

Jeparit is situated on the Wimmera River in Western Victoria, Australia, 370 kilometres north west of Melbourne. At the 2006 census Jeparit had a population of 582.

History

The area around Jeparit had been home to the Gromiluk aboriginal people prior to European settlement and the name Jeparit is believed to be derived from a Gromiluk word meaning “home of small birds”. Settlement began in the 1880s, when German Lutheran immigrants began to settle and grow wheat.

The town was surveyed in 1883 and gazetted in 1889, the Post Office opening on August 31, 1889 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 ] though known as Lake Hindmarsh until December.2 earlier Post Offices called Lake Hindmarsh had existed in the area at various times since 1861 to serve a smaller population of graziers.

Jeparit’s most famous son is former Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies, who was born in the town in 1894. He is commemorated by a local park and spire, which is inscribed:

With it's neighbouring township Rainbow Jeparit has a football team (Jeparit-Rainbow) competing in the Mallee Football League.

Jeparit is the setting for Peter Carey's 1985 novel "Illywhacker".

References