Cohuna, Victoria
{{redirect|Cohuna|the palm tree|Attalea cohune}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = town
| name = Cohuna
| state = vic
| image = CohunaGunbowerCreek.JPG
| caption = Gunbower Creek
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| coordinates = {{coord|35|48|0|S|144|12|0|E|display=inline,title}}
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| pop = 2,415
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2016}}
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| postcode = 3568
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| dist1 = 274
| dir1 = NW
| location1 = Melbourne
| dist2 = 151
| dir2 = N
| location2 = Bendigo
| dist3 = 65
| dir3 = NW
| location3 = Echuca
| lga = Shire of Gannawarra
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| stategov = Murray Plains
| fedgov = Mallee
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Cohuna {{IPAc-en|k|oʊ|ˈ|h|uː|n|ə}}Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. {{ISBN|1-876429-14-3}} is a town situated {{convert|274|km|mi}} north of Melbourne, on the Murray Valley Highway, in northern Victoria, Australia. At the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Cohuna had a population of 2,415.
History
A post office opened in the area on 18 September 1875, known as Mologa until 1876, then Cohuna, and renamed Cullen in 1884 when Cohuna Township PO opened. This latter office was renamed Cohuna around 1887.{{Cite web | last = Phoenix Auctions History | title = Post Office List | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=*Cohuna* | access-date = 24 February 2021}}
On 10 November 1915, Cohuna was connected to the Victorian Railways system when the {{convert|57|mi|adj=on}} branch line from Elmore to Cohuna was opened.{{Cite book |last=Harrigan |first=Leo J.|title=Victorian Railways to ‘62 |location=Melbourne |publisher=Victorian Railways Public Relations and Betterment Board |year=1962 |page=284}} The line was closed on 1 March 1981.{{cite web |title=Cohuna Line |url=https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Cohuna |website=Vicsig |access-date=2024-07-31}}
The Cohuna Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1990.{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lawrefrom/legal_services/final_report.pdf |title=Review of Legal Services in Rural and Regional Victoria |publisher=Parliament of Victoria Law Reform Committee |date=May 2001 |accessdate=12 April 2020 |pages=291–292}}
The Cohuna & District Historical Society has a museum that is open to visitors. The museum is in the old Scots Church building. The collection contains a variety of old household items and memorabilia from the district.[https://cohunahistoricalsociety.org/museum/ Cohuna & District Historical Society]
The town today
Surrounded by dairy farms and situated on the banks of Gunbower Creek, (an anabranch of the Murray River), the town is a popular holiday spot as well as a regional sports centre with a wide range of facilities.
Cohuna is the main access point to the attractions of the vast red gum and box forest covered Gunbower Island, which lies between Gunbower Creek and the Murray, and is home to diverse native birdlife, kangaroos and emus.
Legend has it that John Farnham was "discovered" in Cohuna, and he returned in 2002 for a free one-off show.{{cite web|url=http://www.johnfarnham.com/biography.html|title=Biography|last=McIntyre|first=Kylie|work=John Farnham - through the eyes of a fan|accessdate=2008-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706122250/http://www.johnfarnham.com/biography.html|archive-date=2008-07-06|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cohuna.org.au/attractions.htm|title=Cohuna Attractions|publisher=Cohuna & District Progress Association|accessdate=2008-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105182002/http://www.cohuna.org.au/attractions.htm|archive-date=2009-01-05|url-status=dead}} The Bee Gees also played in Cohuna in their early days.{{cite web|url=http://www.beegees-world.com/archives109.html|title=Barry Gibb Interview|last=Williams|first=Gail|date=2005-03-06|work=Sunday Times|publisher=Bee Gees World|accessdate=2008-10-20}}
Australian artist Sarah Blasko used Cohuna landmarks such as a local cafe and hospital for her video "Planet New Year".{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}}
Gunbower Creek runs along the Main Street and Garden Park. Golf, tennis, parkrun, camping, fishing, water-skiing, canoeing, birdwatching and bushwalking are popular with visitors.
The Cohuna water tower is adorned with the town's name, and is visible for kilometres.
Cohuna is a plastic-bag-free town.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}
Events and sport
The Bridge to Bridge is an annual charity event that includes seven run and cycle events for all ages and abilities, and raises funds for the Cohuna District Hospital. The program of events includes a 21.1 km half marathon trail run, 12.5 km trail run, 6.5 km fun run/walk, Kids K 1 km junior run/walk, 25 km and 50 km cycle events and 6.5 km junior cycle event. The event is held on the first Sunday in March each year.[https://bridgetobridge.org.au/ Bridge to Bridge event]
Cohuna hosts an Easter tennis tournament and golf tournament.
The local agricultural show is held in March and is organised by the Cohuna Agricultural, Pastoral & Horticultural Society.{{Cite web|title=Cohuna Show|url=https://cohunashow.com.au/|access-date=2022-01-14|language=en-AU}} The first Cohuna Show was held in 1911.
The town has an Australian rules football team, the Cohuna Kangas, competing in the Central Murray Football League.{{Cite web | last = Full Points Footy | title = Cohuna | url = http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/cohuna_kangas.htm | accessdate = 2009-04-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090215053835/http://fullpointsfooty.net/cohuna_kangas.htm | archive-date = 15 February 2009 | url-status = usurped }}
Golfers play at the [http://www.cohunagolfclub.com.au/ Cohuna Golf Club] on Weymouth Road.{{Cite web | author= Golf Select | title = Cohuna | url = http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=953 | accessdate = 2009-05-11 }}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.cohuna.org.au/ Community website]
{{Towns in Gannawarra Shire}}
{{authority control}}