Branxholme

History

The traditional owners of the land now known as Branxholme, are the Gunditjmara people. The first non-indigenous settlement of Branxholme was established around 1842 when several pastoral runs were established. As was common across Western Victoria, the initial white settlers were predominantly Scottish. In 1843 the first hotel 'The Travellers Rest' was opened. Branxholme township was formally surveyed in 1852, and the name Branxholme was chosen, in reference to Branxholme, a hamlet in the Scottish Borders region of Scotland. The township was laid out in a gridded street design, straddling the banks of the Arrandoovong Creek. Several of the streets carry the names of notable and prominent early landowners (Best, McNichol.) The Branxholme post office was opened on 1 June 1858. The township's first church, Branxholme Presbyterian Church, was opened on Monroe Street in 1862, with the accompanying manse completed shortly after. The township of Branxholme contains a large number of historically significant places, which are recorded on the Victorian Heritage Database as follows: The former Colonial Bank was the only bank in Branxholme. Unusual in its style, built originally as a house prior to 1870. Branxholme Cemetery is located 6 km North of the township, on the Henty Highway. The cemetery is laid out in a conventional manner with graves grouped by denomination, and earliest burials date from the mid 1850s. The construction of the original building was completed by builder George Foster in 1884. Additional rooms were added to the rear in 1888 and supper room and kitchen were added in 1936. The water tower is located on the western side of Railway Parade as one of the few remaining structures of what was once a substantial complex of railway buildings and…

Most-observed species

• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  225
• Superb Fairywren

  Malurus cyaneus (Ellis, 1782) · Aves
  163
• Little Raven

  Corvus mellori Mathews, 1912 · Aves
  144
• Gray Shrikethrush

  Colluricincla harmonica (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  141
• Gray Fantail

  Rhipidura albiscapa Gould, 1840 · Aves
  141
• Red Wattlebird

  Anthochaera carunculata (Shaw, 1790) · Aves
  135
• New Holland Honeyeater

  Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  113
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  104

Most recent

• M 3.8 — 2011-06-01
  45 km NE of Hamilton, Australia