Murchison

On the edge of Australia's Goulburn Valley fruit bowl, the small town of Murchison stands at the site of the first Goulburn River crossing, about 145km north of Melbourne. The town is a popular base for fishermen trying their luck in the local reaches of the river and Waranga Basin channels. Orchards and dairy herd keep the local farmers in gainful employment and the town's tourist standout is an Italian war memorial and attendant chapel. Murchison also has an extraterrestrial connection with the past and Meteorite Park just 2km south of the town marks the spot where a meteorite shower pelted the earth in 1969. A couple of kilometres further on and you come across Days Flour Mill whose outbuildings date back to 1865. Murchison is graced by a significant Italian quarter in the local cemetery. A mausoleum dedicated in 1961 houses the re-interred bodies of Italian prisoners-of-war who died in the local prison camp and in other Australian detention centres. The cemetery complex also includes an Italian war memorial and a chapel. Built 11km north of town in 1877 for grazier John Winter, Dhurringile Homestead also has a strong World War II connection. The 65-room mansion was used as a prison for German officers and is now a low security gaol.