Strathmerton
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = town
| name = Strathmerton
| state = vic
| image = StrathmertonMurrayValleyHighway.JPG
| caption = Main street, Strathmerton
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| use_lga_map = yes
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| coordinates = {{coord|35|55|0|S|145|29|0|E|display=inline,title}}
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| pop = 1072
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes = {{Census 2021 AUS | id = SAL22379| name = Strathmerton (State Suburb) | accessdate = 2 December 2014 | quick = on}}
| poprank =
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| postcode = 3641
| elevation =
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| dist1 = 238
| dir1 = north
| location1 = Melbourne
| dist2 = 56
| dir2 = north
| location2 = Shepparton
| dist3 = 11
| dir3 = west
| location3 = Cobram
| lga = Shire of Moira
| region =
| county =
| stategov = Shepparton
| fedgov = Nicholls
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| near-n = Ulupna
| near-e = Yarroweyah
| near-se = Katunga
| near-s = Katunga
| near-sw = Yalca
| near-w = Bearii
| near-nw = New South Wales
| near =
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}}
Strathmerton is a town in Victoria, Australia.
It is located in the Shire of Moira local government area on the Murray Valley Highway and Goulburn Valley Highway, about {{convert|11|km|mi|0}} west of Cobram. At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Strathmerton had a population of 1072.
Toponymy
Benjamin Boyd, who was one of the earliest landowners in the district, initially named his property 'Ulupna'. He later changed it to Strathmerton from 'Merton', the name of his family home in Scotland, and 'strath', a Gaelic word meaning 'valley'.{{cite web |title=Strathmerton, VIC |url=https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/strathmerton-vic |website=Aussie Towns |access-date=3 July 2023}}
History
Strathmerton Post Office opened on 1 September 1879. In 1888 on the arrival of the railway a Strathmerton Township Post Office opened near the station. In 1891 this was renamed Strathmerton.{{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=*Strathmerton* | access-date = 22 March 2021}}
The local railway station was opened on the railway to Cobram in 1888, with the line to Tocumwal opened in 1905.{{cite book
| author = Bob Whitehead
| title = Tocumwal Railway Centenary
| year = 2008
}} The last regular passenger service was in 1993.{{cite magazine |date=March 1997 | title = Rail Passenger Service Withdrawals Since 1960 | author = Chris Banger |magazine= Newsrail | publisher = Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division) | pages =77–82}} Before road changes, Strathmerton was known as the intersection of the Goulburn Valley Highway and the Murray Valley Highway and was the northernmost town directly north of Melbourne still in Victoria.
The Kraft factory in Strathmerton was acquired by Bega Cheese in December 2008 with Bega claiming that production will double in the following five years.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/18/2450207.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503095225/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/18/2450207.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 May 2009|title=Production set to double at cheese plant|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2008-12-19}} On May 6, 2025 Bega announced their intention to shut down their Strathmerton factory by mid-2026, in a move that was expected to save the company $30 million annually. The lay-offs are expected to directly affect around 300 employees within area and expected cause a negative ripple-on effect for the township.{{cite web |last1=Manuel |first1=Charmaine |title=Bega Cheese to close Victorian processing site to move jobs to NSW |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-06/bega-cheese-company-closing-strathmerton-site-victoria/105261168 |website=ABC News |access-date=7 May 2025 |language=English |date=6 May 2025}}
Today
File:Strathmerton Public Hall Stevage.jpg
The town is served by the Strathmerton Primary School. Other than a few small businesses, the only industries of note are the large Bega Cheese factory and the Booth Transport Milk Transfer Depot. The surrounding rural area consists of mainly irrigated dairy and fruit farms. There are several beaches and camping spots just to the north of Strathmerton along the Murray River in and adjacent to the Barmah State Forest.
The local football team, Strathmerton Football Club competes in the Picola & District Football League. The Strathmerton Lawn Bowls Club is a popular social and recreational focal point for locals and visitors.
Golfers play at the course of the Strathmerton Golf Club.{{Cite web | author= Golf Select | title = Strathmerton | url = http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=1097 | accessdate = 2009-05-11 | postscript= }}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.strathmertonps.vic.edu.au/ Strathmerton Primary School]
- [http://strathmertonfc.vcfl.com.au/ Strathmerton Football Club]
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{{Towns in Moira Shire}}
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