Macarthur
Victoria
Mechanics' Institute Hall
Macarthur is located in Shire of Moyne
Macarthur
Macarthur
Coordinates38°01′S 142°00′E / 38.017°S 142.000°E / -38.017; 142.000
Population522 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)3286
LGA(s)Shire of Moyne
State electorate(s)Polwarth
Federal division(s)Wannon

Macarthur (/məˈkɑːrθər/)[2] originally known as Eumeralla, is a town in the Western District of Victoria, Australia on the Hamilton-Port Fairy Road. It is in the Shire of Moyne local government area and the federal Division of Wannon. At the 2016 census, Macarthur and the surrounding area had a population of 522.[1]

History

The Macarthur Court House building, now the Historical Society building

Aboriginal residency and traditional ownership

Before British colonisation, the region around Macarthur was occupied by the Worerome killink gundidj clan of the Gunditjmara people.[3]

The formally recognised traditional owners for the area in which Macarthur sits are groups within the Eastern Maar and Gunditjmara peoples,[4] who are represented by the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC)[5] and the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (GMTOAC).[6]

British pastoral licences

In 1840, the Bolden brothers were the first British pastoralists to obtain crown leaseholds in the region. The immense leasehold, named Bolden's run, covered large amounts of land west of the Hopkins River. In 1842, the Boldens' leasehold was divided up and the resultant properties around what was to become the Macarthur region were known as Eumeralla East, Eumeralla West and Harton Hills (which was also known as Blackfellows Creek). The Eumeralla leaseholds were taken up by James Hunter and his associates, while Harton Hills was occupied by William Carmichael.[7][8][9]

Township of Macarthur

In 1852, the Eumeralla Inn, built by Mr. Gwyther was the first building constructed.

The township was laid out near the Eumeralla River by surveyor John Turner, with the first land sales taking place shortly after on 17 July 1857.

Macarthur Post Office opened 1 January 1862.[10]

The Macarthur Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1983.[11]

Community

The town in conjunction with neighbouring township Hawkesdale has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Mininera & District Football League.

Golfers play at the course of the Macarthur Golf Club on Hamilton Road.[12]

Macarthur is also the site of the large Macarthur Wind Farm, completed in 2013.

Macarthur was Victoria's Tidiest Town in 1988.

References

  1. 1 2 "206 Census QuickStats Macarthur". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Butler, S., ed. (2009). "Macarthur". Macquarie Dictionary (5th ed.). Sydney: Macquarie Dictionary Publishers Pty Ltd. 1952 pages. ISBN 978-1-876429-66-9.
  3. ↑ Clark, Ian (1995). Scars in the Landscape. Canberra: AIATSIS.
  4. ↑ "Map of formally recognised traditional owners". Aboriginal Victoria. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation". Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal". Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "History". Macarthur Historical Society. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "PICTURESQUE VICTORIA". The Australasian. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 992. Victoria, Australia. 4 April 1885. p. 1 (THE AUSTRALASIAN SUPPLEMENT). Retrieved 25 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "FAMOUS PASTORAL PROPERTIES: Merrang, on the Hopkins River, is Famous for Its Lincoln Sheep". The Australasian. Vol. CLI, no. 4, 841. Victoria, Australia. 11 October 1941. p. 33. Retrieved 25 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 10 February 2021
  11. ↑ "Special Report No. 4 - Court Closures in Victoria" (PDF). Auditor-General of Victoria. 1986. p. 79. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  12. ↑ Golf Select, Macarthur, retrieved 11 May 2009
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