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Nhill Victoria
Nhill
Population:	1915 (2006)[1]
Postcode:	3418
Coordinates:	36°20′S 141°39′E / 36.333°S 141.65°E / -36.333; 141.65Coordinates: 36°20′S 141°39′E / 36.333°S 141.65°E / -36.333; 141.65
Elevation:	133.0 m (436 ft)
Location:	374 km (232 mi) from Melbourne 353 km (219 mi) from Adelaide 76 km (47 mi) from Horsham 39 km (24 mi) from Dimboola
LGA:	Shire of Hindmarsh
State District:	Lowan
Federal Division:	Mallee
Mean Max Temp Mean Min Temp Annual Rainfall 21.5 °C 71 °F 8.0 °C 46 °F 415.3 mm 16.4 in

Nhill is a town in the Wimmera, in western Victoria, Australia. Nhill is located on the Western Highway, half-way between Adelaide and Melbourne. At the 2006 census Nhill had a population of 1915.^[1]

History

The area has been home to the Wotjobaluk Aboriginal people for thousands of years and was first visited by Europeans in 1845. Brothers Frank and John Oliver decided to build a sawmill on Crown land beside the Dimboola-Lawloit road, the township of Nhill grew from there.^[2]

Cobb and Co coaches serviced Nhill from 1883.^[2]

The name Nhill is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘early morning mist rising over water’.^[3]

Nhill Post Office opened on 1 January 1881. An earlier rural office (1861) was replaced by Lawloit Post Office ^[4]

Nhill was the first Victorian town after the state capital, Melbourne, to be supplied with electricity. Electric lighting was installed by 1892.^[2]

The Famous Little Desert Hotel of Kiata, 12 kilometres east of Nhill,was rebuilt in 1902 after a fire destroyed the original building.

On 27 October 2008 it was the first stop for Hamish and Andy's Caravan of Courage II.

Lowan Whole Foods closed operations in March 2009.

Current description

Nhill is the administrative headquarters for Shire of Hindmarsh and its 1915 residents are mainly employed in either farming or food processing, most notably in grain and fowl. The major employer in the town is Luv-a-Duck (and associated businesses). Tourism is another local industry; Nhill services the highway traffic passing through. Most of the inhabitants are Lutheran, but Anglican, Catholic, Uniting and Presbyterian churches also operate in the town.

The release of the film Road to Nhill in 1997 briefly placed Nhill in the national spotlight.

Nhill was the birthplace of Masters Australian football (Superules).

Education

Nhill has a Lutheran Primary school, A Catholic Primary School and a P-12 public school.

Transport

Nhill railway station, Victoria is serviced by The Overland that stops thrice a week. Air services are at Nhill Airport.

Attractions

Nhill has 4 local hotels,The Little Desert Hotel, The Commercial Hotel, The Farmers Arms Hotel and The Union Hotel.

Sport

Nhill has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Wimmera Football League.

Nhill is also the base of the Cricket competition known as the West Wimmera Cricket Association.

Nhill has a golf course at the Nhill Golf Club on Netherby Road.^[5]

The horse racing club, the Wimmera Racing Club, holds the Nhill Cup meeting on Boxing day (26 December).^[6]

Notable people

Nhill is the hometown of Australian rules football player Jason McCartney, who suffered severe injuries during the 2002 Bali terrorist bombing, and later recovered enough to make a comeback to the sport.

Nhill is also the birthplace of Janet Powell, leader of the Australian Democrats between 1990 and 1991; and Senator for Victoria between 1986 and 1993.

• David Flood (Footballer, Essendon)
• Dean Wallis (Footballer, Essendon)

Nhill is the residence of Steve Ward, 52, who defeated Tiger Woods in the 2009 Xbox 360 Live Gillette EA Sports World Championship of Gaming, in Orlando Florida, in February 2009.

References

External links

• Nhill College Website