Bus Tours
Gateway to the GV Tour
NOTE VARIATION OF DATE BELOW.
Time is allowed for lunch in Murchison, or bring your own. The Murchison Heritage Centre and Christ Church will be open.
Former Moorilim Catholic Church, Moorilim
A privileged visit to an archetypal red brick country church cleverly converted into a comfortable private dwelling. The church once served the staunchly Catholic population of the now vanished Moorilim. Complemented by a picturesque garden.
A privileged visit to an archetypal red brick country church cleverly converted into a comfortable private dwelling. The church once served the staunchly Catholic population of the now vanished Moorilim. Complemented by a picturesque garden.
Days Mill
‘The finest example of traditional milling technology in working order in its original setting’ in Victoria, and probably Australia. The three-storey brick mill of 1865 and later granary extension, the flanking two-storey brick residence, the evocative collection of farm buildings, and the peppercorn- and pine tree-lined drive from the gatehouse comprise an unforgettable heritage site. Listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
‘The finest example of traditional milling technology in working order in its original setting’ in Victoria, and probably Australia. The three-storey brick mill of 1865 and later granary extension, the flanking two-storey brick residence, the evocative collection of farm buildings, and the peppercorn- and pine tree-lined drive from the gatehouse comprise an unforgettable heritage site. Listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL
Tours Sat and Sun. Depart 10am, return approx 4pm.
THESE TOURS TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY 13 AND SUNDAY 14 MAY.
THESE TOURS TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY 13 AND SUNDAY 14 MAY.
Tally Tour
Fairley Downs
See the slab hut of early squatter Sherbourne Sheppard (after whom Shepparton is named), a small private graveyard, and wander around the exterior of Hamilton Coldwell’s 1906 homestead, designed by well-known local architect, John Augustus Kenny Clarke.
See the slab hut of early squatter Sherbourne Sheppard (after whom Shepparton is named), a small private graveyard, and wander around the exterior of Hamilton Coldwell’s 1906 homestead, designed by well-known local architect, John Augustus Kenny Clarke.
Tallygaroopna Soldiers’ Memorial Hall
This proud little Memorial hall, topped by its trophy WW1 German trench mortar, was opened by Acting Prime Minister Dr Earle Page on 9 June 1924. At £2500, it cost the small community £1000 more than Shepparton’s famous statue. See the RSL ‘dugout’.
This proud little Memorial hall, topped by its trophy WW1 German trench mortar, was opened by Acting Prime Minister Dr Earle Page on 9 June 1924. At £2500, it cost the small community £1000 more than Shepparton’s famous statue. See the RSL ‘dugout’.
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL
Tour departs Sat 12.30pm, returns approx 4pm.
Dookie and Nearby Tour
Time is allowed for lunch in Dookie, or bring your own.
Gowangardie Homestead
A rare opportunity to see one of the municipality’s few squatter-built homesteads, the evocative first stage erected by Humphrey Grattan in the early 1860s. The wonderful stable/coach house is suffering the ravages of time and its vernacular construction.
A rare opportunity to see one of the municipality’s few squatter-built homesteads, the evocative first stage erected by Humphrey Grattan in the early 1860s. The wonderful stable/coach house is suffering the ravages of time and its vernacular construction.
St Mary’s Catholic Church, Dookie (Exterior Only)
Very popular for weddings due to its picturesque rural setting outside Dookie, on land donated by vineyard owner John Curtain, this impressive cruciform (cross-shaped) 1898 church is a prominent local landmark. The presbytery is the municipality’s only Catholic monastery.
Very popular for weddings due to its picturesque rural setting outside Dookie, on land donated by vineyard owner John Curtain, this impressive cruciform (cross-shaped) 1898 church is a prominent local landmark. The presbytery is the municipality’s only Catholic monastery.
Dookie Public Cemetery
Be guided around this historic cemetery situated on the western slopes of Mt Major, with panoramic views providing a striking backdrop to the graves. With burials dating from the 1870s, it is one of two cemeteries in the Dookie area, the other being Cashel or Dookie East.
Be guided around this historic cemetery situated on the western slopes of Mt Major, with panoramic views providing a striking backdrop to the graves. With burials dating from the 1870s, it is one of two cemeteries in the Dookie area, the other being Cashel or Dookie East.
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL
Tour departs Sat 10am, returns approx 4pm.
Mosques and Temple Tour
On this full day tour, subsidised by the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District, you will visit the area’s four mosques and the Sikh temple. Lunch will be provided.
Headcovering is required for women, and for men at the Temple. This tour, conducted irregularly by the Ethnic Council, is very popular, so book early.
Please note that locations visited on the Mosques and Temple tour will vary dependent on availability. Please confirm which locations will be available for
visiting when booking with the Ethnic Council.
NOTE VARIATION OF DATE BELOW.
Albanian Mosque
This was the first mosque built in Shepparton, Albanians having been established in this area since the 1920s. The first stone was laid in 1956 by Myrteza Adem and R Sherif Islam, with the building opening in 1960. Listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
This was the first mosque built in Shepparton, Albanians having been established in this area since the 1920s. The first stone was laid in 1956 by Myrteza Adem and R Sherif Islam, with the building opening in 1960. Listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Afghani Mosque
The local Afghani population, who mainly arrived in this area from 2005 when many of the men came to pick fruit, raised in excess of $1 million for this mosque and engaged a builder to develop the project, which commenced in mid-2013.
The local Afghani population, who mainly arrived in this area from 2005 when many of the men came to pick fruit, raised in excess of $1 million for this mosque and engaged a builder to develop the project, which commenced in mid-2013.
Sikh Temple
Sikhs started settling in the Goulburn Valley in the 1970s, attracted by the availability of work on the orchards. The temple or gurduara was opened in 1980; the worship place is on the first level, with a community service hall on the ground floor.
Sikhs started settling in the Goulburn Valley in the 1970s, attracted by the availability of work on the orchards. The temple or gurduara was opened in 1980; the worship place is on the first level, with a community service hall on the ground floor.
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL: Booking for this tour is through the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District at 5831 2395.
THIS TOUR TAKES PLACE ON THURSDAY 11 MAY AND SATURDAY 13 MAY. Tour departs Thurs, Sat 10am, returns approx 4pm.
Irrigation Tour
Time is allowed for lunch in Murchison, or bring your own. The Murchison Heritage Centre and Christ Church will be open. Tour includes rough terrain: wear closed, suitable footwear.
Goulburn Weir (1891)
Just outside Greater Shepparton, but vital. The first major diversion structure built for irrigation in Australia and seen as a ground-breaking ‘national’ scheme, it raises the river level so that water can be diverted to irrigation in the GV.
Just outside Greater Shepparton, but vital. The first major diversion structure built for irrigation in Australia and seen as a ground-breaking ‘national’ scheme, it raises the river level so that water can be diverted to irrigation in the GV.
1890 Flume
Only the handrail of this impressive wooden structure, Flume No 4, is visible. It was constructed to carry the new National Channel across a natural drainage depression south of Murchison en route from the Weir to the Waranga Basin storage.
Only the handrail of this impressive wooden structure, Flume No 4, is visible. It was constructed to carry the new National Channel across a natural drainage depression south of Murchison en route from the Weir to the Waranga Basin storage.
'Old pump site', Murchison
The 1885 pump was the solution of the local water authority, the United Echuca and Waranga Waterworks Trust, to the pent-up local demand for irrigation to fill its channels while a weir was still being debated. Archaeological site only.
The 1885 pump was the solution of the local water authority, the United Echuca and Waranga Waterworks Trust, to the pent-up local demand for irrigation to fill its channels while a weir was still being debated. Archaeological site only.
'Big Cut'
A rarely-seen section of the Cattanach Canal (1957) cut through a rise just before the Canal enters the Waranga Basin. Here the depth of cut is the greatest on the Canal, up to 19m, resulting in impressive low cliff-like walls.
A rarely-seen section of the Cattanach Canal (1957) cut through a rise just before the Canal enters the Waranga Basin. Here the depth of cut is the greatest on the Canal, up to 19m, resulting in impressive low cliff-like walls.
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL
Tour departs Fri 9.30am, returns approx 4pm.