Shepparton, Victoria (Australia)

Shepparton (pronounced /ˈʃɛpətn/) is the fifth largest city in Victoria, Australia. The population of the municipality of City of Greater Shepparton in 2005 was estimated to be at 60,403 residents. The population of Shepparton-Mooroopna is estimated at 38,773. It is located approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) north-east of Melbourne.

It houses the central administration of the City of Greater Shepparton and is central to the Greater Shepparton urban area, which includes the surrounding suburbs/townships of Tatura, Merrigum, Mooroopna, Murchison, Dookie, Grahamvale and the Goulburn Valley.

History

The town developed adjacent to the Goulburn River, at a crossing point for miners travelling from the Bendigo goldfields to the new finds in the Beechworth area. As there was no bridge to link rich pastures on either sides of the Goulburn River, a punt was quickly established and the settlement became known as "McGuire's Punt".

The name Shepparton comes from a squatter called Sherbourne Sheppard who held the Tallygaroopna Station. From about 1855 it appears in various documents as a dual name "Shepparton or McGuire's Punt". The initial spelling was Sheppardtown or Sheppardton, before coming to its present spelling when the town was surveyed. A Post Office opened on 1 February 1854 and closed in July of that year, reopening on 1 May 1858. It is sometimes imagined the name is from Shepperton in England, but this is not the case.

The railway from Seymour reached the town in 1880, and the town was soon the hub of a number of branch lines, and rail served industries.

The Royal Australian Navy has a ship HMAS Shepparton named after the city, and the 8th/7th BattalionRoyal Victoria Regiment has a base in the cites south-east.

Culture and leisure

The city is also notable for its Moooving Art project, which involves local artists painting fibreglass cows, which are then displayed in tourist locations throughout the city and surrounding townships. The project is an artistic representation of the strong dairy industry prevalent in the Shepparton area.

Kidstown, one of the largest outdoor playgrounds in Australia, is said to have over 200 children visiting each day. Located between Shepparton and Mooroopna, it has two giant slides, a 35-metre (110 ft) flying fox and a train that goes right around the playground. Entry is free (with the exception of the train ride). The playground and the on-site café which has a great variety of foods.

The city is home to a large swimming centre called Aquamoves, two performing arts centres, one in Mooroopna named WestSide, a fitting tribute to a musical theatre standard and Its geographical location and Eastbank in Shepparton which houses the centres' box office. Collectively the centres are called Riverlinks, which also incorporates the Shepparton Art Gallery.

Shepparton is also home to the Shepparton Theatre Arts Group Inc. (STAG), the city's premier theatrical group. STAG was formed in 1975 after an amalgamation between the Shepparton Dramatic Society and the Shepparton Light Music Company. The group presents one dramatic/comedic play, one musical and one rock revue each year. Past Presidents of STAG have included Erna Werner, Rob Robson, Ric Birkett and Aaron-David Palmer.

The band Augie March come from the City.

Shepparton has a large immagrent community with people form places such as Albania,Afganistan, Iraq, Greece, Italy and Sudan as well as many other places.

Shepparton has a 24 hour integrated (staff and volunteers) fire brigade with the station being located in Maude Street in the CBD. Shepparton Fire Brigade is part of Country Fire Authority (CFA) Region 22 which has its administrative headquarters also in Shepparton located in the northern end of the city on Numurkah Road.

Source: Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepparton,_Victoria