Willaura
In this section
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Town information
Region
Ararat Rural City CouncilPopulation
400Distance from Melbourne
203km / 126 miles and 2.5 hours travelling time by carRoad access
Glenelg Highway/ Western Highway
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Places of interest
Historic Bakery
Willaura Hotel
Willaura Railway Station
Narrapumelap Homestead
Toora West Gardens
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Accommodation
For accommodation bookings telephone:
The Ararat Visitor Information Centre
Toll free 1800 657 158
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Overview
A picturesque town located 25 minutes south west of Ararat, Willaura is the hub of a thriving agricultural industry. Renowned as a wool producing region, the Willaura area is now a significant crop producing location, particularly Canola, which dominates the landscape each spring with its stunning bright yellow flowers.
Willaura itself is home to one of Victoria’s oldest bakeries, with its famous wood fired stove, while the Willaura Hotel was built in the early 1900s and is part of a classic country town main street landscape. Willaura has a hospital, primary school and good sporting facilities, while the historic Willaura Railway Station is a must for history buffs. Nearby to Willaura and the township of Wickliffe is the stunning 'Narrapumelap', a gracious and beautiful French Gothic homestead built between 1873-1878. The mansion's dominant feature is a beautiful bluestone tower. Wrought iron gates open onto a carriageway surrounded by fine landscaped gardens.
History
A boom town during the period of industrious railway development in the 19th century, Willaura’s record grain yields and proximity to the Mafeking goldfields made its railway station one of Victoria’s busiest. In the early 1900s Willaura boasted a population of about 300 people, and was a thriving social community with a range of sporting clubs including, football, racing, cricket and golf. Willaura also boasted a debating society, a Ladies Guild, a squadron of the Light Horse Regiment, and various church and political associations. The town’s population is now a modest 400 and several historic town walks enable you to get a sense of Willaura’s heyday as well as the welcoming atmosphere which imbues the current close-knit community.
