Swan Hill Rural City is located in north-western Victoria, about 344 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD. Swan Hill Rural City is bounded by the Murray River and the New South Wales border in the north and east. Swan Hill Rural City's boundaries are Balranald Shire in the north, the Murray River Council area in the east, Gannawarra Shire and Buloke Shire in the south, and Mildura Rural City in the west.
Included Areas
Swan Hill Rural City includes the townships and localities of Annuello, Bannerton, Beauchamp (part), Beverford, Bolton, Boundary Bend, Bulga, Castle Donnington, Chillingollah, Chinangin, Chinkapook, Cocamba, Fish Point, Gerahmin, Goschen, Gowanford, Happy Valley, Kenley, Kooloonong, Kunat, Lake Boga, Lake Powell, Liparoo, Manangatang, Meatian (part), Miralie, Murnungin, Murrawee, Murraydale, Narrung, Natya, Nowie, Nyah, Nyah West, Nyrraby, Pental Island, Piangil, Pira, Polisbet, Robinvale, Robinvale Irrigation District, Speewa, Swan Hill, Swan Hill West, Tol Tol, Towan, Tresco, Tresco West, Turoar, Tyntynder, Tyntynder South, Tyrrell (part), Ultima, Ultima East, Vinifera, Waitchie, Wandown, Wemen, Winlaton, Winnambool, Wood Wood, Woorinen, Woorinen North and Woorinen South.
Land Use
Swan Hill Rural City is predominantly a rural area, but has substantial residential areas, particularly in the city of Swan Hill. The two largest centres are Swan Hill and Robinvale, with smaller townships at Lake Boga, Manangatang, Nyah, Nyah West, Piangil, Ultima and Woorinen South. The City encompasses a total land area of about 6,100 square kilometres. Much of the rural area is used for agricultural and horticultural purposes, including wool, wheat, maize, citrus fruits, grapes, wine and dairy products. Tourism is also an important industry.
Name Origin
Swan Hill was named by Major Thomas Mitchell when he explored the area in 1836, after a sleepless night camped on a rise near a flock of noisy swans.
Indigenous Meaning
The original inhabitants of the Swan Hill area were the Wemba-wemba Aboriginal people.
Settlement
European settlement dates from 1846. Land was used mainly for pastoral purposes, especially sheep stations beside the Murray River and grain production. The township of Swan Hill was established in the 1850s, becoming a busy river port until the end of the 1800s. Growth took place from the late 1800s into the early 1900s, when many townships were established, aided by the extension of the railway line. Urban growth was accompanied by intensive irrigation development and other agricultural endeavours in the rural areas. The most significant development occurred during the post-war years. The population of the City grew slightly from the 1950s into the 1970s, rising from about 16,000 in 1954 to about 20,000 in 1971. The population has been relatively stable since the 1980s, at about 20,000 people.
Major Features
Major features of the City include the Murray River, Pioneer Settlement Swan Hill, Sunraysia Institute of TAFE (Robinvale and Swan Hill Campuses), Murray-Kulkyne Park, Swan Hill Saleyards, Lake Boga, River Murray Reserve and various wineries.
Transport
Swan Hill Rural City is served by the Mallee Highway, the Murray Valley Highway and the Melbourne-Swan Hill railway line.
