Shepparton
vic 3630

Shepparton was a sheep station and river crossing in the mid-19th century, before undergoing a major transformation as a railway town. Today it is an agricultural and manufacturing centre, and the centre of the Goulburn Valley irrigation system, one of the largest centres of irrigation in Australia. It is also a major regional service city and the seat of local government and civic administration for the City of Greater Shepparton.

The large commercial centre of Shepparton is based around the main thoroughfare of Wyndham Street and the mall along part of Maude Street. A communications tower, located off the Maude Street Mall, is open weekdays from 9am to 3pm and offers visitors spectacular views over the city and surrounding countryside from a public viewing platform.

Shepparton's main industries are agriculture and associated manufacturing. Australia's largest processor of canned fruits, SPC Ardmona, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coca-Cola Amatil, has production facilities in Shepparton and nearby Kyabram. Seasonal fruits, such as peaches, pears and apricots are preserved into a variety of packaging. The Manufacturing industry has evolved to cater to the needs of local primary producers. Other major manufacturers in the city include Campbells Soup Company, Pactum Dairy, and Pental.

Shepparton's cultural precinct is located in Wellsford Street and consists of an art gallery featuring Australian ceramics and paintings, and a major war memorial located next to the council offices. On the corner of Wellsford Street and High Street is the Paul Gribben Historical Precinct, consisting of the Shepparton Heritage Centre which contains thousands of items tracing Shepparton's history housed in the old Forester's Hall (built in 1873) and farming equipment displays in the surrounding parkland.

A network of parks, reserves and forests follow the paths of the Goulburn and Broken Rivers through Shepparton, offering good bushwalking tracks and picnic spots. There is a dense state forest between Shepparton and neighbouring Mooroopna along the river, with the Peter Ross Edwards Causeway (Midland Highway) cutting through it to link the two communities together.

Victoria Park Lake, constructed in 1920 from a swamp, is located just south of the heart of Shepparton, fronting the main highway and featuring walking tracks, bike paths, a skate park and boating facilities. Adjacent to the lake is the Aquamoves health and fitness centre which has both indoor and outdoor pools.

Shepparton has numerous primary schools, such as state schools Bourchier Street Primary, Gowrie Street Primary, Guthrie Street Primary, St Georges Road Primary School, Grahamvale Primary, Kialla West Primary, Kialla Primary, Wilmot Road Primary, Shepparton East Primary and Orrvale Primary. Catholic primary schools include St. Brendan's, St. Mel's and St. Lukes. It also has a school catering for students with disabilities, called Verney Road School.

Townships nearby:

• Mooroopna North
• Kialla
• Grahamvale
• Mooroopna
• Shepparton East
• Shepparton North
• Orrvale

References: Wikipedia and Travel Victoria