Explore Kyabram

Explore

Kyabram So much to offer...

in Kyabram, the friendly town KYABRAM, a town built on the primary industries of dairying and fruit growing is now the second largest town in the Shire of Campaspe, with a growing population of over 7,300 people.

Known as the ‘friendly town’, Kyabram boasts a variety of pleasant coffee shops and eateries, including takeaway shops, restaurants and hotels.

There’s also plenty of entertainment on offer with all three hotels as well as the Kyabram Club regularly hosting free, live entertainment.

Visitors often remark of the town’s strong sense of pride and depth of community spirit, these traits are clear to see when you speak with a local; Kyabram’s passion to drive tourism and promote their ‘little patch’ of regional Victoria is evident.

Good old fashioned country hospitality are certainly alive and well in ‘Ky’, couple that with a seemingly endless range of things to do and you can be assured that even the most discerning tourist will be entertained when visiting the town.

The central shopping precinct includes a range of boutiques and specialty stores, pharmacies, banking facilities, ATMs and supermarkets, which are all easily accessible and the parking is always free.

Art is also an emerging culture in ‘Ky’ with the beloved Town Hall now playing host to a permanent gallery and a seemingly endless stream of impressive exhibitions, then of course there is the unique town mural, reflecting Kyabram’s history depicting many aspects of the town, from early settlement through to recent times, proudly positioned just off the main street.

The town also boasts excellent facilities including the hospital with its Urgent Care Centre, Aged Care Facilities and Community Health and Medical Centres.

Kyabram’s parks and gardens along with the iconic Kyabram Fauna Park also provide visitors with some great outdoor activities to keep the whole family amused. So if it’s been a while since you last visited Kyabram, make some time these school holidays!

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Explore Kyabram

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A Brief History of Kyabram SETTLEMENT began in Kyabram in 1873 when land became open for selection under the 1869 Lands Settlement Act. The district was thickly forested, the land was harsh and dry and the nearest source of water was the Goulburn River, running through the Shepparton/ Mooroopna area.

Kyabram at that time was one of only a few small settlements in the area, along with Henley, Pine Grove, Taripta and Lancaster.

The first business to open in Kyabram was a grocery and produce store in 1876, it later became the Albion Hotel. A number of additional businesses began to appear over time and the town began to grow.

Kyabram soon had everything it needed, including a butcher, second hotel, bootmaker, post office, draper/general merchant store and a blacksmith/saddle and harness maker. Then followed a grain store, police station and blacksmith.

In October 1884, the postmaster general notified the township of Kyabram that the name of their new post office would be named ‘SHERIDAN’ after an American general who was visiting Victoria at the time. The townsfolk were quite upset by this, as very few had ever heard of this man before, so many protests were put forward. Finally, eighteen months later in April 1886, the post office was re-christened by the government to the name of ‘KYABRAM’.

School holiday fun at Kyabram Fauna Park INTERACTIVE ENCOUNTERS… Kyabram Fauna Park Manager, Ron Pope and the team at Kyabram Fauna Park are giving ‘kids’ the opportunity to pat ‘Kay’ the koala these school holidays as a part of their Interactive Experiences.. Photo: Alicia Niglia.

ESTABLISHED since 1976, the Kyabram Fauna Park has come a long way since its humble beginnings of housing just three animals; the park now houses an impressive collection of Australian native animals; from reptiles and insects to marsupials and birdlife, with just under 700 residents calling the park home.

Kyabram Fauna Park Manager, Ron Pope said, “We’ve managed to maintain the natural look and feel of the park over the years; many of the animals here enjoy the free range lifestyle. The experience is interactive for visitors, giving them the opportunity to ‘get up close and personal’ with the animals.

“We’re also currently working on three major conservation projects and have in the past successfully kept and bred 13

endangered species.”

The Kyabram Fauna Park has plenty to keep the whole family entertained year round, and with barbeques, a kiosk and a playground for the ‘kids’ there’s plenty of reasons to head over to the park these school holidays.

The Kyabram Fauna Park is also offering two very special Interactive Encounters these holidays; giving ‘kids’ the opportunity to pat ‘Kay’ the koala and meet their two friendly Major Mitchell Cockatoos.

The Kyabram Fauna Park is a not-forprofit organization with all funds generated at the gate going directly back into the Park.

Visit the Kyabram Fauna Park, 75 Lake Road, Kyabram, or phone 5852 2883 for more information and open hours.

Explore Kyabram A PASSION FOR PASSION AND A LOVE OF ART… Kyabram Town Hall’s passionate team of creative volunteers, Curator of the Isobel Harvie Collection, Isobel Harvie, Japanese Quilt Exhibition Coordinator, Lesley Lowe, Gallery Curator, Lynne Hume and Town Hall Marketing Co-ordinator, Nicole Fraser. Photo: Alicia Niglia.

Town Hall brings art to the heart of Kyabram AFTER extensive renovations and over 1,000 hours of volunteer, community labour, the Kyabram Town Hall was re-launched on November 7, last year.

The building now plays a very significant role in the community; housing of the tow n’s V i sitor I n for m at ion C ent re , Community Centre and now Kyabram’s own unique Art Gallery.

The new Art Gallery is divided into three separate spaces, the local Splinter Contemporary Artists group’s works are featured on one wall in the main room whilst the opposing wall is a constant evolution of visiting artwork; then there’s the Classic Gallery, situated at the rear of the building and currently showcasing a brilliant Japanese Quilt Exhibition.

For those that have a thirst for history and an appreciation for the fashion of yester year, a wander through Isobel

Harvie’s Collection of Victorian and Edwardian historic clothing is simply a must.

Isobel commented, “The gallery has been great for Kyabram, we now have bus loads of people coming from as far as Melbourne and Wangaratta to see the exhibitions. It’s great for the town, they’ll stop in for lunch and it benefits not only the local businesses, but the whole community.”

The Kyabram Town Hall project has been supported by the Shire of Campaspe for a trial period of 12 months, the community and the many passionate individuals who have volunteered their time and energy to get the project off the ground sincerely hope that the Kyabram Town Hall continues to receive the level of support that is has for the past nine months. Visit www.kyabramtownhall.com.au for more information on upcoming exhibitions.

BRAM SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN KYA re-launched g bein er Aft …

COMMUNITY l now plays Hal n last year, the Kyabram Tow munity. com the in role t can a ver y signifi Photo: Alicia Niglia.

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Explore Kyabram

A gift to the Kyabram community KYABRAM’S ‘The Gift’ was created in 2011 by a small group of community minded locals who discovered a need for both financial and emotional support for those suffering with cancer within the Kyabram area.

Supported by volunteers, The Gift has already assisted over 100 families within the Kyabram and district community and has recently received incorporation association status, which is great news for the organisation, who raise an average of $150,000 annually.

But The Gift have an even bigger vision for the future; to obtain a place of residence, a house for The Gift to call home.

The primary purpose of the house would be

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to act as an informal ‘drop-in’ centre for people in the community affected by cancer, providing information and resources and acting as a hub for cancer related services and support groups.

A proposal has been drafted and submitted, but on-going funding is still required to make this dream a reality.

Committee Member, Alison Wills said, “The house will provide people with a place to go for support, access to allied health services and a safe haven for connecting with other people with the community who are experiencing similar issues.

“We are hoping to be fortunate enough to receive some sponsorship to provide us with ongoing funding that will allow us to ensure that The Gift continues to support and give back to our community for many years to come.”

To find out more about The Gift, visit www. thegift.co

BIG VISION FOR THE FUTURE… Kyabram’s The Gift team of volunteers have been working hard, raising the funds needed to obtain a place of residence for the community supported fund which assists local people suffering with cancer.

From left, Committee Members, Allison Wills and Jenny McMeeken. Photo: Alicia Niglia.

Rediscover Kyabram, a town of many treasures C

s

LOCATED just a leisurely half hour drive from both Shepparton and Echuca the township of Kyabram is known for being the home to many iconic tourist attractions.

The Kyabram Fauna Park, of course with its 55 hectares of wood and wetland areas, attracts animal lovers from across the country and indeed the world, to visit and interact with their huge population of Australian animals.

The Kyabram Parkland Golf Club, invites both locals and visitors to compete in the popular annual, June ‘Victorian Par 3 Amateur Women’s and Men’s Golf Championships’.

The newly refurbished Kyabram Town Hall has also now reached icon status with its gallery of ever-changing exhibitions, including the renowned Isobel Harvie collection of Edwardian and Victorian clothing, recently donated to the town. The Community and

Visitor Information Centres are also located within the Town Hall hub.

The Kyabram RV and Country Music Corral is held annually in November and draws a huge crowd to the town, with many RV travellers entertained by traditional country music artists.

Kyabram is a family friendly town and the community welcomes you to enjoy their warm, friendly country hospitality. The parks and gardens provide lovely outdoor areas for both locals and visitors to enjoy; with playgrounds, walking tracks and barbeque facilities.

Kyabram is set off the main highways and is within close proximity to the Goulburn and Murray rivers making water leisure activities also a great way to spend weekends and holidays within the area.

For more information about what’s on in Kyabram, visit www.kyabramtown.com.au

Explore Kyabram

HARD WORK PAYS OFF… Kyabram and District Community Bank Steering Committee Member and local Business Owner, Vince Curtis proudly shows off the new home of the Kyabram and District Community Bank. Photo: Alicia Niglia.

Community strength prevails THE impacts of the collapse of Kyabram’s Banksia Financial Group in 2012 certainly left scars on the people of Kyabram; but a strength of community has affirmed that when one door closes, another is certain to open...

Soon after the closure of Banksia’, the Kyabram Development Committee generated an idea that renewed hope for the future of Kyabram. It was decided that the town would benefit from a Community Bank that could not only support its shareholders and rebuild lost wealth, but also largely be the catalyst to achieve many community projects; and so the Kyabram and District Community Bank Steering Committee was born.

The committee members have been hard at work raising awareness of the project that will see 80 percent of the bank’s profits return to the community and the remaining 20 percent return to the shareholders.

Committee Member and local Business Owner, Vince Curtis said, “We now have over 300 members of the community that have pledged their investment, which has enabled us to approach the bank. We hit this target number of investors last October and raised the required $950,000 to get the project off the ground.

“There’s been plenty of hard work involved within every stage, from the initial feasibility study, to compiling the business plan, finding the right location and gaining the approval of the Bendigo Bank. We’re now about to commence the final stages of raising the capital and then design and fit-out.

“We’re really looking forward to employing the staff and opening the doors in late October/early November.”

The Kyabram and District Community Bank will sit under the Bendigo Bank banner and assist in funding projects that support the Kyabram and District community, Kyabram’s public amenities and ultimately, further assist with attracting new business to the town and facilitating further economic growth.

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