Murtoa
Major wheatbelt town in the Wimmera area of western Victoria
Situated around Lake Marma, Murtoa is a small town of some 1000 people on the Wimmera Highway, 31 km north-east of Horsham, 282 km north-west of Melbourne and 140 m above sea-level. A massive grain complex bears witness to the fact that this is very much a wheat town in a wheat district.

It is speculated that the Jaadwa Aborigines occupied the district prior to white settlement. The area was known as Marma Gully until the township started to develop in the early 1870s. The present name derives from a local Aboriginal word thought to mean 'home of the lizard'.

The first European in the area was Major Mitchell on his excursion to 'Australia Felix' in 1836. Squatters established the 'Ashens' and 'Longerenong' runs in 1844. The latter property was acquired, in 1862, by politician, philanthropist and pastoralist Sir Samuel Wilson who was elected to the British House of Commons in 1886. His 1862 homestead is still standing to the west of town. It has been authoritatively described as 'the finest Gothic villa in western Victoria'.

Wilson owned all of the land around Lake Marma by 1871. That year a station hand at 'Longerenong' pegged out the first freehold block on the eastern side of the lake. As was the case throughout western Victoria, closer settlement began with German wheat-farmers from Mt Gambier investigating the land across the border and taking up selections. Thus a party of Germans arrived at the lake in 1871. Finding the soil fertile they pegged out claims, finished up their business at Mt Gambier and returned to Marma Gully in 1872.

After delays caused by Wilson's objections the township was finally surveyed around 1876. An emphasis on religion and education was manifest in the early establishment of a building in 1873 which served as a school, a site for Lutheran services and a public hall until the Board of Education took over the facility in 1875. Indicative of conditions in colonial country settlements, this one-room structure (the teacher slept at one end) was made of saplings plugged with mud. The floor was earthen and the roof was thatched with reeds from Lake Marma. It was replaced by a proper school building in 1877.

A post office was opened in 1874, a flour mill and Presbyterian Church were established in 1876 and the police set up shop in 1877, the same year the Lutherans built St John's. A Catholic church followed in 1880, an Anglican establishment in 1887 and a Methodist church in 1892. Local newspaper, The Dunmunkle Standard, was first published in 1878 and, in 1881, a mechanics' institute was built and an agricultural society was formed. The railway arrived in 1879 and the town was, for a short time, the railhead for wheat shipment in the Wimmera. Consequently the district and township expanded and prospered.

A freezing works was established in 1909 to export lamb to London although it closed in 1939. The bulk wheat storage facilities at Marmalake were built in 1942 as wheat could not be exported during World War II.

The major social event in the local calender is the Big Weekend held in October when there is a general celebration which coincides with the local show. Events include an arts show, poetry readings and a race meeting. There are about a half-dozen race meetings each year and these are very well attended events. The town also has an attractive golf course in a bush setting surrounded by flora and birdlife.

Things to see:  

Tourist Information and Marma Street
Marma Gully Antiques at the corner of Marma St (the Wimmera Highway) and Duncan St is the best place to enquire about local tourist information. It is situated in the old CBA bank building (1877-82), tel: (03) 5385 2422.

Over the road is the Marma Gully Hotel, a fine red-brick pub with wrought-iron lacework built in 1913 when it opened as the Commercial Hotel.

Walk along Marma St to Lake St. At this intersection, to the left, is the original Holy Trinity Anglican Church (1887). Opposite is the fine two-storey house of Dr Rabl, the town's first resident doctor. It was built between 1896 and 1902.

Lake Marma Reserve
Over Lake St are the Memorial Gates (1920) which mark the entrance to Lake Marma Reserve. The lagoon covers 20 ha and lies at the centre of Murtoa, both historically and geographically. As a water source the original settlers all staked their land claims around the lagoon which is noted for its birdlife, splendid colourful sunsets and a walking track around the lake. Other features include Sprott Fountain (1895) and the band rotunda (1907). There are also electric barbecues.

Rabl Park
At the northern end of the lake, by the corner of Lake St and Breen St, is Rabl Park which features an artificial lake system, a playground and barbecue facilities.

Duncan St
Walk along Breen St to Duncan St and turn left into the latter. To the right is the old Oddfellows Lodge (1892), now a private residence. Further along the road is the primary school (1875). At Breen and Degenhardt St is the old Lutheran manse (1913) and diagonally opposite is the original St Mary's Catholic Church (1880), albeit much altered and extended.

Comyn St
At the next intersection (Duncan and Comyn Sts) is Thomas House (1891). Turn right into Comyn St. To the left is 'Degenhardt', an attractive one-storey building erected in 1880. Gustav Degenhardt was a member of the original party of four Germans from Mt Gambier to peg out claims around the lake in 1871.

Museum
At the end of Comyn St there is an intersection with Soldiers Ave where there is a Water Tower Museum which is literally housed in an old and attractive four-storey, thirteen-metre water storage tower built in 1886 by the railways for the supply of steam engines. Without is a fine brick exterior and within is a collection of 500 birds and animals from James Hill's taxidermy collection gathered from 1885 to 1930. There is also material relating to the shire's history. It is open from 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Sundays.

Concordia College
A private Lutheran school opened at Murtoa in 1887. In 1890 the idea emerged to turn it into a training college for pastors and teachers at private Lutheran schools. A new building was erected in 1892 and the name 'Concordia College' was adopted in 1894. The enterprise was moved to Adelaide in 1905. Part of this old and attractive building has been moved to a spot adjacent the water tower. Some Lutheran artefacts are being accumulated therein and it is possible to peruse the interior at certain times.

Also at this intersection are the railway station (1878) and the Railway Hotel (1891) although the latter has been much altered.

Deer Farm and Pioneer Hut
At the corner of Soldiers Parade and the highway, at the eastern end of town, is the Pioneer Project which features a replica pioneer hut (a project of Murtoa Secondary College). Adjacent is a deer farm which is also part of the college.

Strawboard Factory
Just over the railway line Thomas Rd heads north off the highway, parallel to Soldiers Ave. Along here, beside the railway track, is the Solomit Strawboard Factory which welcomes visitors for a tour through the operations, tel: (03) 5385 2260. The strawboard manufacture occurs in a section of the four-storey structure. The rest is unused. Part of the complex contains the six-cylinder diesel engines that drove the flour mill. They are in working order.

Stick Shed and Grain Complex
Just east of the town boundary, adjacent the Wimmera Highway, is one of the most unmistakable sights in town - the Stick Shed. Built in 1941 from 640 unmilled tree trunks, it was used to store grain which could not be exported during the war years. It is 260 metres long, 60 metres wide and 20 metres high. It can, of course, be closely inspected from the exterior but it is not currently open to the public.

Another similar structure, about half the size, was originally adjacent. Instead the Grain Elevators Board receival centre stands beside the shed. It consists of numerous massive wheat silos grouped together. They hold 300 000 to 400 000 tons.

Steam Engines
Opposite the shed are the Wimmera Inland Freezing Works steam engines which were constructed in 1911. Each engine weighs from 20 to 30 tons and is driven by an huge fly wheel. Restored and in working order they can be seen at different times of the year, tel: (03) 5385 2422.

McDonald St
The shopping centre in McDonald St dates from the turn of the century. At the corner of McDonald St and Degenhardt St is the police house (1899).

Barrabool Forest Reserve
Barrabool Forest Reserve is located 7 km south of town along the road to Stawell. It has a fine display of wildflowers in spring, although it is inaccessible in winter due to the dry-weather roads.

	Hotels
	Marma Gully Hotel Marma St Murtoa VIC 3390 Telephone: (03) 5385 2202
	Railway Hotel Comyn St Murtoa VIC 3390 Telephone: (03) 5385 2241