Whorouly
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = town
| name = Whorouly
| state = vic
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| coordinates = {{coord|36|30|0|S|146|35|0|E|display=inline,title}}
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| pop = 383
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes = {{Census 2021 AUS | id = SAL22777| name = Whorouly | accessdate = 28 March 2025 | quick = on}}
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| postcode = 3735
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| dist1 = 274
| dir1 = NE
| location1 = Melbourne
| dist2 = 32.3
| dir2 = SE
| location2 = Wangaratta
| dist3 = 19.1
| dir3 = NW
| location3 = Myrtleford
| lga = Rural City of Wangaratta
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| stategov = Ovens Valley
| fedgov = Indi
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Whorouly is a town in northeast Victoria, Australia. Its name is possibly derived from an Aboriginal word meaning a black (or red) cockatoo, although another suggestion is that it means "underwater".{{cite web |title=Whorouly |url=https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/whorouly |website=Victorian Places |access-date=2021-06-18}}
The town is in the valley of the Ovens River and in the Rural City of Wangaratta local government area, {{convert|274|km|mi}} north-east of the state capital, Melbourne and {{convert|32.3|km|mi}} south-east of the regional centre of Wangaratta. At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Whorouly and the surrounding area had a population of 383. Prior to the 1994 council amalgamations by the Kennett Government (and the creation of the Rural City of Wangaratta), the township was in the disbanded Shire of Oxley.
The town can easily be missed, being sited off the two main valley highways, between the Snow Road (the C522 which runs from an interchange on the M31 Hume Freeway) and The Great Alpine Road (B500), which runs between Wangaratta and Omeo. It is, however, only five minutes from either road.
Town facilities currently include churches, a children's playground, a sporting ground and a public hall, a combined primary school and pre-school,{{cite web |url=http://www.whorouly.vic.edu.au/ |title=Home |website=whorouly.vic.edu.au}} a combined hotel/pub/general store, a cafe and several self-catering holiday rentals and B&B's.
History
The town was surveyed and proclaimed in 1868, adopting the name of a nearby station. Whorouly Primary School opened in 1874.{{cite web|title=Whorouly|url=http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~surreal/AVNE/Towns/towns-Wangaratta.html#whorouly|work=Towns-Wangaratta descriptions|publisher=RootsWeb|accessdate=17 August 2010}}
The first European settlers established large grazing properties but after the Victorian gold rush, closer settlement took place.
Land was released in {{convert|320|acre|ha|adj=on}} lots, on the condition that part of the land was cleared for agriculture.{{cite web|title=The Whorouly Landcare Group |url=http://northeast.landcarevic.net.au/whorouly/background|work=Landcare North East|publisher=Department of Sustainability and Environment|accessdate=17 August 2010}}
Until the 1980s, much of the area along the Ovens River was planted with tobacco. Other primary products in the area included beef and dairy cattle, orchards and market gardens. In recent years, wine grape growing has been introduced meaning that the area, being at the apex of the Ovens Valley and King Valley, is the centre of a significant food region, with many farm gate and cellar door sales.
Sports and Recreation
File:Whorouly Football Club colours.jpg
The local Australian rules football team, Whorouly Football Netball Club was established in 1892 and joined the Ovens and King Football Netball League in 1904 and plays at the Whorouly Recreation Reserve, which also has eight grass tennis courts and a large community social rooms, capable of seating 200 people.
The Whorouly East Football Club joined the Bright District Football Association in 1932{{cite web |title=1932 - BRIGHT DISTRICT FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269077517 |publisher=Myrtleford Times and Ovens Valley Advertiser (Vic. : 1930 - 1955) |access-date=26 February 2025 |page=2 |date=27 April 1932}} and played there in 1933 too.
East Whorouly FC commenced the 1934 season in the Bright District Football Association,{{cite web |title=1934 - Myrtleford |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10932284 |publisher=The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) |access-date=26 February 2025 |page=14 |date=30 April 1934}} but then joined the Mudgegonga Football Association in late April, 1934{{cite web |title=1934 - Mudgegonga |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269073682 |publisher=Myrtleford Times and Ovens Valley Advertiser (Vic. : 1930 - 1955) |access-date=26 February 2025 |page=2 |date=9 May 1934}}{{cite web |title=1934 - New Association |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/268177499 |publisher=Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855; 1857 - 1890; 1892 - 1955) |access-date=26 February 2025 |page=3 |date=12 May 1934}} and then defeated Mudgegonga in the grand final{{cite web |title=1934 - WHOROULY EAST PREMIERS |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269075417 |publisher=Myrtleford Times and Ovens Valley Advertiser (Vic. : 1930 - 1955) |access-date=26 February 2025 |page=3 |date=15 July 1934}} and were undefeated premiers.{{cite web |title=1934 - MUDGEGONGA ASSOCIATION |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/268179154 |publisher=Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855; 1857 - 1890; 1892 - 1955) |access-date=26 February 2025 |page=3 |date=15 September 1934}} It appears that there was no Mudegonga Football Association in 1935 and East Whorouly FC folded as a result.
The Whorouly Rovers Football Club was formed in 1936{{cite web |title=1936 - Myrtleford and Bright District League |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/268081800 |publisher=Myrtleford Times and Ovens Valley Advertiser (Vic. : 1930 - 1955) |access-date=25 February 2025 |page=2 |date=29 April 1936}} and the team played in the Myrtleford & Bright District Football League between 1936 and 1939.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Towns in the Rural City of Wangaratta}}
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