Great Western is a town in the east of the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia. The town is located on the Western Highway, in the Shire of Northern Grampians local government area, 225 kilometres north west of the state capital, Melbourne. The town has a population of 425.
| Great Western Victoria | |
|---|---|
 The Western Highway at Great Western | |
  Great Western | |
| Coordinates | 37°09′0″S 142°51′0″E / 37.15000°S 142.85000°E |
| Population | 425 (2021 census)[1] |
| Postcode(s) | 3377 |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Northern Grampians |
| State electorate(s) | Ripon |
| Federal division(s) | Wannon |
The first European settlers in the Great Western area were sheep graziers in the 1840s and closer settlement began with the discovery of gold during the Victorian gold rush, the Post Office opening on 1 June 1858.[2] . The first vineyards in the Great Western area were established by two Frenchmen who met at the gold diggings at Daylesford. Following their example, Joseph Best and his brother Henry established vineyards in 1865. Following Joseph's death in 1888, the property was purchased by Hans Irvine. Irvine imported staff from France and dedicated himself to establishing a sparkling wine of comparable quality of French champagne. In 1918, Irvine sold the winery to his friend and Australian wine pioneer, Benno Seppelt.[3] For decades Seppelt's "Great Western" and Penfolds' "Minchinbury" were strong contenders for Australia's premier Champagne-style sparkling wine.[4]
Today, Great Western is the wine and food village of the Grampians. Wineries are still producing quality sparkling wines including Seppelt Salinger at the Seppelt winery, now owned by Treasury Wine Estates.[5][6] The Ahchow Family have been custodians of the Seppelt Great Western estate since 2016. The Seppelt cellars include over 3 kilometres of labyrinthine tunnels ("drives") originally constructed by out of work gold miners. The underground cellars were used to allow the sparkling wine to rest and develop.[3] Sparkling Shiraz was first made at the now Seppelt site in Great Western. The other major vineyard in the area is the Concongella vineyard, operated by Best's Wines, producing a wide variety of wine types.[7] Table shiraz, including some from pre-phylloxera root stocks, is also produced by wineries in the area.[8] The development of a water recycling program transferring waste water from nearby Ararat to wineries at Great Western has allowed recent expansion of the wine industry in the area.[9]
The horse racing club, the Wimmera Racing Club, holds the Great Western Cup meeting on Australia Day (26 January),[10] and a rodeo is also held annually.
The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Mininera & District Football League.[11]
For more information on Great Western, please visit here,
Gallery
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Anglican Church
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Church building
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General Store
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Great Western Hotel
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Mechanics Institute
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War memorial gates
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Main Street
References
edit- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Great Western (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Great Western - Victoria - Australia - Travel - smh.com.au". www.smh.com.au. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
- ^ "Champagne full of surprises and industry take-overs". The Canberra Times. Vol. 62, no. 19, 006. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 October 1987. p. 24. Retrieved 18 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Seppelt Salinger". Seppelts Wines. Archived from the original on 22 July 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2007.
- ^ "Seppelt". Foster's Group. Archived from the original on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2007.
- ^ "Best's Concongella Vineyard, Great Western (Established 1866)". Best's Wines. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2007.
- ^ "Our Vineyards - Great Western, Victoria". Seppelts Wines. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2007.
- ^ Courtney, Pip (30 April 2000). "Great Western turns water into wine". Landline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 31 May 2007.
- ^ Country Racing Victoria. "Wimmera Racing at Great Western". Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
- ^ West and fairest Lions roar The Age 25 March 2012
Further reading
edit- Brasch, Nicolas; Thomson, Chris (2016). Best's Great Western: Celebrating 150 years. Preston, Vic: Bounce Books. ISBN 9780992398149.
- Francis, L.R. (1965). 100 Years of Wine Making: Great Western 1865-1965. Great Western, Vic: B. Seppelt & Sons. OCLC 52978235.