Colignan, Victoria

Colignan is a small rural town on the banks of the Murray River, in North Western Victoria, Australia. The town is on the border of the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park. At the 2016 census, Colignan and the surrounding area had a population of 329.[1]

Colignan
Victoria
The Murray River flows through Colignan. This island, commonly known as Watts's or Colignan Island, is fully submerged when the river is high
Colignan
Coordinates34°33′S 142°23′E
Population329 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)3494
Location
  • 509 km (316 mi) NW of Melbourne
  • 53 km (33 mi) SE of Mildura
  • 10 km (6 mi) S of Nangiloc
LGA(s)Rural City of Mildura
State electorate(s)Mildura
Federal Division(s)Mallee
Localities around Colignan:
Nangiloc Nangiloc New South Wales
Carwarp Colignan New South Wales
Carwarp Hattah Hattah

The closest town to Colignan is called Nangiloc which is Colignan spelt in reverse. It appears that Colignan predated Nangiloc, and Colignan is thought to have been the name of a local Aboriginal leader.

History

Colignan and nearby localities Nangiloc and Iraak were established as soldier settlement farming areas after World War I, road access to the area being from the west via Boonoonar on what is now the Calder Highway.[2] A Post Office opened on August 22, 1922 marking the beginning of postal services to the area. It closed in 1988.[3]

In common with many other soldier settlement areas the blocks provided were too small to be viable and most original settlers had left by the mid-1930s and were replaced by a later generation using irrigation.

The town today

The economy of the town is based on primary industry, mostly citrus and grape growing. Avocados and almonds are also well represented. The rich soil and the proximity to the Murray River have allowed farming of a diverse range of crops. Dry land farming in the area consists of mainly wheat and barley.[4]

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Colignan (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  2. Nangiloc Public School, Colignan Reminiscences, archived from the original on 18 July 2008, retrieved 11 August 2008
  3. Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
  4. "Soils of the Nangiloc-Colignan irrigation area" (PDF). Victoria department of agriculture and rural affairs. 1986.



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