Horsham Rural City Local History
Horsham Rural City is located in the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia. The area was traditionally home to the Wotjobaluk people, who lived in the region for thousands of years before European settlement.
European explorers arrived in the area in the early 1800s, with the first settlement established in 1842. The area was named after the town of Horsham in Sussex, England.
The first major industry in the region was agriculture, with wheat and sheep farming the main focus. The Horsham to Melbourne railway line was completed in 1879, connecting the region to the state capital. This provided a major boost to the local economy, allowing farmers to more easily transport their produce to market.
During the early 20th century, the region experienced a period of growth and development. The Horsham District Hospital was opened in 1903, and the Wimmera River was dammed in the 1930s to create Lake Wendouree, providing a reliable source of water for the area.
During World War II, the region played an important role in Australia's war effort. The RAAF Base at Nhill was used for training pilots, while the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline was constructed to provide water to the Royal Australian Air Force base at Horsham.
In the post-war years, Horsham Rural City continued to grow and develop. The Wimmera-Mallee pipeline was extended to provide water to the surrounding agricultural areas, boosting agricultural production. A number of new industries were established in the region, including food processing and manufacturing.
Today, Horsham Rural City is a thriving regional centre with a population of over 20,000. The region is known for its natural beauty, with the Grampians National Park and Mount Arapiles popular destinations for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. The region's agriculture industry continues to thrive, with wheat, sheep, and cattle farming still important to the area's economy.