Horsham, Victoria

Infobox Australian Place | type = city
name = Horsham
state = vic

---

caption = The main street of Horsham in 2006
lga = Rural City of Horsham
postcode = 3400
est =
pop = 14,125 (2006)Census 2006 AUS | id = SSC25783 | name = Horsham (Urban Centre/Locality) | accessdate = 2007-10-01 | quick = on]
elevation= 128
maxtemp = 21.5
mintemp = 8.2
rainfall = 446.4
stategov = Lowan
fedgov = Mallee
dist1 = 303
dir1 = NW
location1= Melbourne
dist2 = 427
dir2 = SE
location2= Adelaide
dist3 = 188
dir3 = WNW
location3= Ballarat
dist4 = 313
dir4 = S
location4= Mildura

Horsham is the largest city by population and regional centre of the Wimmera region of Australia. At the 2006 census, Horsham had a population of 14,125. Horsham is in the federal Division of Mallee. Currently held by the National party, it is the most conservative seat in the country. [cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/mall.htm | title=Mallee - Federal Election 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-30 | author=Antony Green]

Horsham won Australia's Tidiest Town 2001, [cite web | url=http://www.hrcc.vic.gov.au/main.cfm?CategoryID=8&contentfile=infopage&topicid=58 | title=Horsham Rural City Council | accessdate=2007-10-30 | author=HRCC] despite the ten year drought that is affecting the area. [cite web | url=http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/wimregn.nsf/pages/natres_climate_drought | title=Drought Management | accessdate=2007-10-30 | author=Department of Primary Industries]

History

Horsham was surveyed and settled in the late 1840s, the Post Office opening on July 1, 1848 Citation
last = Premier Postal History
title = Post Office List
url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country=
access-date = 2008-04-11 ]

The main railway from Melbourne reached Horsham in 1879 and was later extended to Adelaide, while a branch line east to Carpolac was started in 1887 and closed in 1988. [cite web
url=http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html
title=VR History
publisher=www.victorianrailways.net
accessdate=2008-07-16]

The Horsham Borough Council and the Shire of Wimmera operated the McKenzie Creek Tramway from the town to a stone quarry, some 8km to the south. The horse tramway opened in 1885 and ceased operating in 1927. Special picnic trains operated from time to time conveying residents in open wagons ["The McKenzie Creek Tramway" Vanstan, K. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, September, 1974 pp202-207] .

Transport

Horsham is where the Western Highway (connecting Melbourne to Adelaide) and the Henty Highway (from Portland north towards Mildura) cross paths with the Wimmera Highway.

Horsham railway station is on the main Melbourne and Adelaide railway. "The Overland" operates between the state capitals and stops in Horsham thrice a week in each direction for passengers, however there is no direct connection to the Victorian broad gauge rail network. Long interstate freight trains regularly travel through the town, and a local container freight service is operated by QRNational for Wimmera Container Lines. [cite web
url=http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/rail-to-roll-on/1229118.aspx
title=Rail to roll on
work=Wimmera Mail Times
date=28/07/2008
publisher=yourguide.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-30] Until July 2008 it was operated by Pacific National, who cancelled it in April then gave it a three month reprieve. [cite web
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/21/2222687.htm
title=Rail freight woes spark crisis of confidence
work=ABC News
publisher=www.abc.net.au
accessdate=2008-07-16] [cite web
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/24/2226019.htm
title=Three month extension for Wimmera rail freight services
work=ABC News
date=April 24, 2008
publisher=www.abc.net.au
accessdate=2008-07-16]

V/Line operates a coach service to and from Horsham from various areas. Melbourne bound passengers board a train in Ararat to continue their journey. Public transport within Horsham is limited to the town bus service operated by 'Wimmera Roadways/Horsham Bus Lines', consisting of 2 buses and 5 routes.

The town is also served by Horsham Airport.

Sport

Sport and fitness are well-supported in Horsham. There are two well-equipped gyms, a large indoor stadium with facilities for netball, basketball and other indoor sports.There is a brand new Aquatic centre that has just opened with a 25 metre heated pool and gym facility. Local team sports are very popular way of exercising. There are two Football and Netball leagues based around Horsham - the Wimmera Football & Netball League (the main league) and the Horsham & District Football & Netball League. The town has three Australian Rules football teams competing in the Wimmera Football League the Horsham Demons, the Horsham Diggers and the Horsham Saints. The Horsham Demons have had great success in recent years having won the last 6 Wimmera Football League premierships until 2008. And the Laharum Demons (District League) have been the biggest grand final winners over the past 50 years. They are also the base for the Horsham Cricket Association, the major cricket league in the Wimmera. Other sports include Field Hockey and volleyball.

Services and Attractions

Tourism is not a major industry in the city, although it is near the Grampians National Park. There is a tourist wool factory where it is possible to buy woollen products and view how top quality wool is grown in covered sheds.

There is a walk along the Wimmera River, which is restrained by a weir, but the water flow is rather intermittent, due to a drought which also makes the farming industry harder for the farmers.

Horsham Botanic Gardens, located by the Wimmera River, were designed by notable landscape architect William Guilfoyle.

References

External links

* [http://artabase.net/gallery/54-horsham-regional-art-gallery Horsham Regional Art Gallery Artabase page]