Horsham, Victoria

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Horsham ( 36°42′S, 142°12′E) is the only city in the Wimmera region of Australia, located where the Western Highway (connecting Melbourne to Adelaide) crosses the Henty Highway (from Portland north towards Mildura). Primary industries in the area include wheat and wool.

House prices are around the AUD$100,000 mark for a three to four bedroom modern design. Air conditioning is essential with temperatures often exceeding 40°C during summer.

Horsham is in the federal Division of Mallee.

[edit] Transport

Horsham station is on the main standard gauge railway between Melbourne and Adelaide. Very long freight trains regularly travel through the town on their way between Adelaide and Melbourne. The Overland stops in Horsham three times per week in each direction. There is no direct connection to the Victorian broad gauge rail network.

As Horsham is at the intersection of three highways, a lot of heavy trucks (semi-trailers and B-doubles) pass through the city.

V/Line operates a coach service to and from Horsham from various areas. Melbourne bound passengers board a train in Ararat to continue their journey. Public transport within Horsham is limited to the town bus service operated by 'Wimmera Roadways/Horsham Bus Lines', consisting of 2 buses and 5 routes.

[edit] Sport

Sport and fitness are well-supported in Horsham. There are two well-equipped gyms, a large indoor stadium with facilities for netball, basketball and other indoor sports. Local team sports are very popular way of exercising. There are two Football and Netball leagues based around Horsham - the Wimmera Football & Netball League (the main league) and the Horsham & District Football & Netball League. The Horsham Demons (Wimmera League) have had great success in previous years. Currently they have won the last 4 Wimmera Football League premierships.

[edit] Services and Attractions

Tourism is not a major industry in the city, although it is near the Grampians. There is a tourist wool factory where it is possible to buy woollen products and view how top quality wool is grown in covered sheds.

There is a walk along the Wimmera River, which is restrained by a weir, but the water flow is rather intermittent, due to a drought.

Horsham Botanic Gardens, located by the Wimmera River, were designed by notable landscape architect William Guilfoyle.

The streets are wide and well treed. The city is quite flat, making cycling easy and enjoyable. Shops include Safeway and Coles supermarkets and a Kmart variety store.