Welcome to Shepparton

WELCOME TO

Greater Shepparton

The Greater Shepparton region offers many great things to discover. With a blend of provincial and metropolitan lifestyles, there is a diverse range of attractions and activities to suit all visitors.

Explore the township’s nature reserves and surrounding farmlands. Discover first hand why Greater Shepparton is renowned internationally as Australia’s food bowl with farmgate sales, factory outlets and cellar door options boasting sumptuous produce. Be sure to check out the Food, Wine and Farmgate trail.

Known as a family friendly destination, there’s something for everyone here. The Shepparton region is home to Australia’s largest adventure playground KidsTown, Emerald Bank, Fun Planet, MOVE (Museum of Vehicle Evolution), Australia’s only dedicated Furphy Museum and Shepparton Art Museum (SAM).

With many great stories to tell, the culture and history of the region comes to life in museums and galleries. Discover our rich Aboriginal heritage or witness what life was like in a World War II internment camp.

Shepparton is home to many great events, festivals, sporting tournaments, cycling competitions, agricultural shows, arts, music, food and cultural events which celebrate the region and its diverse community.

Whether you’re seeking a relaxing family holiday, a cultural experience, sporting facility or a venue for your next conference, Greater Shepparton offers a range of services, attractions and events to cater to everyone’s needs. For more information on Greater Shepparton, go

Things to See & Do

• E xplore the World War II Wartime Camps and Irrigation Museum in Tatura, one of the most significant wartime museums in Victoria.

• Meander through the picturesque townships of Murchison, Dookie and Tatura, and enjoy the relaxed pace and friendly hospitality.

• V isit Emerald Bank, for a stroll in the gardens, or a game of mini golf and sensational cafes as well as MOVE (Museum of Vehicle Evolution) and Furphy Museum.

• R iver towns offer the perfect chance to drop a line in and see what’s biting, and golfers can enjoy some of Australia’s best provincial courses.

• The Shepparton Festival has a program full of music, live theatre, literature, family events, food, wine and more.

• Many other major events are showcased in the region including International Dairy Week, KidsFest and a range of leading sporting tournaments and competitions.

• E xplore The Australian Botanic Gardens where Australian native plants are laid out in themed gardens designed to represent the cultural, environmental, historical and agricultural characteristics of Greater Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley.

Outdoors & Family Fun

The majestic Goulburn and Broken Rivers meet in Shepparton and provide the perfect location for holiday-makers to enjoy boating, fishing and canoeing.

The natural beauty of the area with its towering river red gums and magnificent waterways can also be experienced by cycling or walking. Explore the beautiful Victoria Park Lake using the extensive sharedpath network, rail trails in Dookie and Murchison, mountain bike and walking trails at Mount Major and a variety of cycling routes. Pick up a cycling or walking guide from Greater Shepparton Visitor Centre. Enjoy a round at one of the amazing local golf courses. There’s 99 holes across six different courses catering to all levels and abilities. From challenging greens to sand scrapes, there is a course close to town that will be sure to challenge you. Or sit back and enjoy a refreshment at the 19th hole!

For birdwatchers, there is an abundance of wildlife to see in wetlands, including Reedy Swamp in Shepparton, Gemmill’s Swamp in Mooroopna and Cussen Park in Tatura.

Home to the largest outdoor adventure playground in Australia, KidsTown offers parents the chance to relax whilst the kids discover amazing giant slides, swings and a fruit bin maze. Aquamoves, is the region’s premier indoor and outdoor aquatic and fitness centre providing hours of fun with a rapid river, water slide and Tarzan swing, splash park, spacious gym and more than 80 group fitness classes each week.

Pack a picnic and get close to nature at the Australian Botanic Gardens or Victoria Park Lake. Alternatively explore the nearby Dookie Hills with its stunning views and atmosphere amongst the vineyards, cropping lands and the famous Dookie red loams.

Whether it’s fun in the sun or a relaxing getaway, families will find many great places to visit all year round in Greater Shepparton.

Dookie

In the late 1800’s the Dookie Agricultural College was born as a concept to create an educational, farming area which was to be then known as the Cashel Experimental Farm. The land was required to be cleared and soon became the start of a farm, growing a large array of grains, grasses and hemp. Later the crop selection grew to include peaches and plums as well as olives, apples and more.

Today, the agricultural college remains one of Australias’s most famous farming educational centres and is the second oldest in Australia.

The drive to and around Dookie is a stunning experience, with rolling hills and gorgeous farmlands which provide views right across to Violet Town (near Benalla) and the Strathbogie Ranges which signify the start of the Victorian High Country.

Part of the North East Art Trail, Dookie sees many visitors passionate about art and culture visiting every year. The Art Trail is a unique part of the culture of the region where gorgeous silo art is showcased across six towns Devenish, Dookie, Goorambat, Katamatite, St. James and Tungamah.

Apart from the simply awe-inspiring art on display, Dookie represents the start of the rail trail which goes on to extend across Victoria. Families are often seen with push bikes meandering along the trail, but for the more serious cyclist, the trail extends on for a wonderful experience which can go over a few days.

The town has several interesting little trading stores, including the Dookie Emporium, the general store and a great pub which offers good, homely meals.

Tallis Wines is located just west of Dookie and is a very wellknown winery which is highly reputed for its great ambience, gorgeous wines and wonderful grazing platters. The view from the cellar door is simply amazing and highlighted by the beautiful glass, timber construction which is clad in iron, sympathetic to the landscape.

Just 25 minutes west of Shepparton is the town of Dookie, which has a long history of farming, synonymous with the entire region of the Goulburn Valley.

Museum of Vehicle Evolution

Shepparton’s

of Vehicle

The expansion has created 10,000sqm of floorspace including a 900sqm undercover area which is perfect for visiting car clubs to park up on the hard standing.

“We have a broad collection of vehicles from classic muscle to heavy transport and historic buses but there are also related collections of costume, broadcast equipment, the amazing Farren Bicycle Collection and the Furphy Museum,” MOVE Executive Officer Peter Hill said.

So, what is MOVE?

For those who visited the original Shepparton Motor Museum and Collectables, you will barely recognise it.

MOVE is a community based not-for-profit run by an independent, skills-based board with a mission to display and promote the history of transport, and the role it has played in shaping our lives.

Along the way, we’ve expanded from cars and motorcycles to include trucks, buses, and bicycles.

We have also found room for important historical collections which help tell the broader story of our evolution such as the Loel Thomson Costume Collection. Loel gathered the collection while researching for the restoration of Noorilim, a grand 1879 villa on the Goulburn River near Murchison.

Over 40 years Loel collected more than 10,000 items of clothing and accessories. The collection consists of articles of clothing and accessories worn over the past 200 years, ordinary clothing that was shaped by the fashion and norms of the period. You can see great social change reflected in the costumes.

The collection of telephones, radios and broadcast equipment belonging to the late Dick Clayton is also important to MOVE. Dick was one of the visionaries who first pushed for the establishment of a museum.

Museum

Evolution is thriving after a $6.7 million redevelopment that cements it as a must see attraction.

Food, Wine & Farm Gate

Greater Shepparton in the heart of the Goulburn Valley offers many great flavours to taste.

Home to an amazing array of home-grown goods including stone fruit, cherries, apples, pears, grapes, olives, avocados and tomatoes, it is little wonder why the region is considered the food bowl of Australia.

The area caters for all tastes. Visit a local producer who creates and sells mouth-watering treats such as boutique cheeses, gourmet products and sweet delights. Fresh fruit sales are also available at farmgate stalls seasonally.

Dining out in Greater Shepparton is also a pleasure. The area caters for all dining experiences with a fantastic selection of eateries.

A visit is not complete without a stop at the region’s award winning wineries. Offering a huge selection from soft whites and sweet varietals to big bold reds and luscious fortifieds, the local vignerons produce their wines with passion and vigour. Taste their offerings at one of the many cellar doors including Tallis in Dookie and Longleat in Murchison or try a Cheeky Cider amongst the orchard trees at Cheeky Grog Cidery in Bunbartha or a local brew at Wild Life Brewing Co.

AQUAMOVES Goulburn Valley’s Premiere Fitness and Leisure Centre

Aquamoves is the place to go for fun and fitness with indoor and outdoor pools, Splash Park, spacious gymnasium and a large suite of group fitness classes.

Mention the Code WELLBEING22 to get a 30% discount off Aquamoves regular casual entry prices.

Valid to 30 April 2023.

www.aquamoves.com.au

Greater Shepparton Visitor Centre

Information and inspiration on things to see and do and where to visit, from friendly locals with expert knowledge to make your stay memorable.

Open 7 days 9am to 5pm, 530 Wyndham Street Shepparton

www.visitshepparton.com.au

phone (03) 5832 9330

‘An important space for artists and the community to connect with art and culture’

Kaiela Arts Shepparton offers a wide range of contemporary Aboriginal artwork that references the traditional linear and X-ray styles of the South East of the Australian continent.

• Paintings on canvas

• Printed textile homewares

• Woven baskets and mats

• Clay sculptures and vessels

• Boomerangs

TUES - FRI 10AM - 4PM

• Carved Emu eggs

• Poker work

• Didgeridoos

• Lino prints

• Souvenirs

SAT & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 10AM - 3PM

137-139 High St Shepparton New Address from January 2021 New Shepparton Art Museum Building beside Victoria Park Lake

Ph. 03 5821 9842

E. info@kaielaarts.org.au

www.kaielaarts.org.au

Arts, Culture & Heritage

Greater Shepparton has many great stories to tell, offering an eclectic mix of arts and cultural experiences to capture the imagination of visitors.

A multicultural melting pot, the region has a depth and diversity that is reflected in everyday life and the vibrant events calendar which includes the Shepparton Festival, Australian National Piano Award, St Georges Road Food Festival and the biennial Indigenous Ceramic Award. The Shepparton Art Museum, affectionately known as SAM, is home to an impressive collection of Australian historical and contemporary ceramics along with significant holdings of Australian art in a range of media styles. SAM has a distinct program of temporary exhibitions and public programming including artist talks and workshops.

Greater Shepparton has a rich and diverse Aboriginal history. Home to Australia’s first purpose-built Aboriginal Cultural Keeping Place, Bangerang Cultural Centre, visitors can learn about Aboriginal culture and history, while Kaiela Arts exhibits work by local Aboriginal artists. The history of the Yorta Yorta people can be experienced on ‘The Flats’ walk between Shepparton and Mooroopna.

Shepparton’s Aboriginal Street Art murals by renowned street artists Adnate and Cam Scale pay homage to esteemed Indigenous elders, celebrating and acknowledging local Aboriginal history and culture.

Kaiela Arts is an Aboriginal art centre providing an important space for artists and the community to connect with art

and culture. Their work drives important outcomes for both their artists and the broader Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community.

The centre offers an accessible studio and social space for local artists to connect, create and share art and is a welcoming environment for everyone to learn about Aboriginal cultural arts. Visit the gallery and shop at the Shepparton Art Museum.

Greater Shepparton’s public art exhibition of life-sized 3D fibreglass cows, known as Moooving Art, is a dedication to the region’s dairy industry. With more than 90 cows, the herd is scattered throughout the municipality. Each having its own colourful design and persona. These flamboyant bovines are fun to spot along riverbanks and in parks, gardens and public spaces.

Greater Shepparton’s fascinating wartime involvement, rich irrigation history, famous Murchison Meteorite and priceless Aboriginal artefacts are just some of the historical gems to be discovered in the region. The rich history from pre-settlement through to modern day immigration can be traced through the archives at the priceless heritage centres in Shepparton, Mooroopna, Tatura, Merrigum and Murchison. For details on opening times, contact Greater Shepparton Visitor Centre on 03 5832 9330.

Guided historical walking tours can also be booked for groups through the Visitor Centre or guides can join touring coach groups to give a real local’s insight.

Other places of interest include Shepparton and Mooroopna’s War Memorials, the Joseph Furphy Memorial and menhir, the German War Cemetery at Tatura and MOVE - Museum of Vehicle Evolution.

Distances

FESTIVALS

Life in Greater Shepparton is always worth celebrating and during the year festivals highlight all that is great in the region. It’s no surprise that food and wine feature high on the festival agenda, including International Dairy Week, Shepparton Albanian Harvest Festival and the St Georges Road Food Festival to name a few.

Greater Shepparton’s premier festival is the Shepparton Festival which has been successfully staged every year since 1997 and is regarded as a major calendar event within regional Victoria. The Shepparton Festival arts program covers everything from fine art, sculpture, dance, film, writing, music, multi-cultural events and celebrations and has something for everyone.

SPORT

Home to a range of Motoring events, the Shepparton Showgrounds is where the heritage of yesteryear meets the modernity of today with two exhibition centres spanning 3000sqm.

Tatura Park is our world class Equestrian Facility located 20 minutes from our town centre. Our indoor arena and outdoor undercover arenas have played host to a range of equestrian codes – this facility is also the home of International Dairy Week which has been held in our region for the past 25 years.

Shepparton is known as the Regional Events Capital of Victoria with the completion of our $21M Shepparton Sports City project consisting of 11 soccer fields, our main sports field which has hosted a range of events including A League soccer competition and a W League presentation game.

18 netball courts, two sand based synthetic Hockey fields a new synthetic Athletics Track with long jump.

BMX is also well catered for in Shepparton with the recent addition of our 8 metre start hill together with our 5 metre. This facility recently hosted the UCI BMX World Cup event. Whether its Aquatic sport at our Aquamoves facility at Vic Park Lake, Grass Tennis at Shepparton Lawn or cycling at the Shepparton Velodrome, Shepparton is well placed for all sporting codes. Lawn Bowls is also highly regarded in our region with 17 rinks available for those keen to venture and compete.

Shepparton is known for its annual triathlon events together with a range of smaller challenges throughout the year.

Swim in our pristine Vic Park Lake, ride on our fast paced roads due to the flat terrain of the region and then have a solid run through the state forest - if it is action you are after, this is the sport that will bring up your heartbeat.

Due to COVID-19 please make sure to check the Visit Shepparton website for the latest and most up-to-date event information.

For a complete listing of Greater Shepparton events, visit www.visitshepparton.com.au or contact the friendly staff at the Visitor Centre on 03 5832 9330 or 1800 808 839

ESSENTIAL

REGIONAL

JOHN BATMAN GROUP