Casterton, Victoria
| Casterton Victoria |
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 Casterton
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| Population: | 1,656(2006)[1] | ||||||
| Postcode: | 3311 | ||||||
| Coordinates: | 37°35′S 141°24′E / 37.583°S 141.4°ECoordinates: 37°35′S 141°24′E / 37.583°S 141.4°E | ||||||
| Elevation: | 73 m (240 ft) | ||||||
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Shire of Glenelg | ||||||
| State electorate: | Lowan | ||||||
| Federal Division: | Division of Wannon | ||||||
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Casterton is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Glenelg Highway, 42 kilometres east of the South Australian border, in the Shire of Glenelg. The Glenelg River passes through the town. Casterton derives its name for the Roman word meaning 'walled city', due to the lush green hills which surround the town.[citation needed]
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[edit] Tradition
Casterton is recognised as the birthplace of the Kelpie breed of Australian working dog and celebrates its role through the Australian Kelpie Muster, Working Dog Auction and Festival each June long weekend. The event is nationally and internationally renowned[citation needed] and since its inception in 1997, it has grown into a successful combination of entertainment and enterprise. The festival is filled with fun activities, which celebrate and demonstrate the Kelpies’ amazing skills. The Working Dog Auction provides a unique chance to observe working dogs demonstrate their skills before sale.
As well as this, Casterton hosts a vintage car rally and polocrosse championships in March, horseracing in May, a woodturning exhibition in August, and street-car drag racing in November.
[edit] Recent times
Nestled amongst the rolling hills and river red gums of the Glenelg River valley, Casterton had been known as a retirement town in the past, but recently young families have settled in the region.[citation needed]
The Casterton Memorial Hospital has recently undergone an upgrade and now contains an IVF clinic. Other areas of health care provided by the hospital are Acute Care, Primary Care, Aged Care and Allied Health Services.
The town is serviced by two primary schools, private and public, as well as the Casterton Secondary College. Pre-schoolers may attend the pre-natal clinic, playgroup and kindergarten.
Casterton is roughly halfway between Melbourne and Adelaide, making it a regular overnight stop-over for tourists. The town is centrally located for day trips to the Great Ocean Road, Grampians, Wimmera and Coonawarra regions.
Casterton hosts beautiful wildflowers, bushland, wildlife and bird life. Wilkin Flora and Fauna reserve, west of Casterton, off the Glenelg Highway is a 3600 hectare reserve with wildflowers of special merit such as Orchids, Acicia, native Heath, ferns and wetland vegetation.
Wilkin Reserve is also of particular interest to bird watchers, with the Red Tailed Black Cockatoo being spotted in the region. Mill Swamp within the reserve, hides Magpie Geese, Dusky Woodswallows and even Brolgas. Kangaroos and Emus are regular visitors to many areas around Casterton, usually at dawn and dusk.
River Red Gum and other Eucalypt species can be seen along the valley of the Glenelg River and the local Ess Lagoon is regularly stocked with trout.
[edit] Community
The town has an active Community Centre, a weekly local newspaper and hosts many activities throughout the year.
The town has an Australian rules football team competing in the Western Border Football League.
The Casterton Racing Club schedules around four horse race meetings a year including the Casterton Cup meeting in May or June.[2]
Golfers play at the Casterton Golf Club on Penola Road.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Casterton (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=UCL208800&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ Country Racing Victoria, Casterton Racing Club, http://www.countryracing.com.au/index.php?option=com_club_info&club=68&Itemid=80, retrieved 2009-05-07[dead link]
- ^ Golf Select, Casterton, http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=945, retrieved 2009-05-11
[edit] External links
- Casterton Now -local information site
- Casterton District Pioneers and History
- Easy version of Thomas Livingston Mitchell's Exploration, including Casterton
- Short History of Casterton, Victoria
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