Birchip, Victoria


Birchip is a town in the Mallee region of Victoria, Australia on the Sunraysia Highway north of Donald. The town is located in the Shire of Buloke local government area. At the, Birchip had a population of 702, up from the 2011 figure of 662. It has a P-12 school, and an Australian rules football club called Birchip-Watchem, also known as the Birchip-Watchem Bulls, or just the "Bulls".

History

A pastoral run was established in the region named Wirmburchep and when surveyed a parish was gazetted as Wirmbirchip.
Closer settlement began in the area by then known as Wirrimbirchip around 1882 and a Post Office under that name opened on 2 July 1883. The town was surveyed as Birchip in 1887 though known by the inhabitants by the original name for quite some years later.
Birchip Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1983, though the court had not sat in Birchip since 1973.

Birchip today

The farms in the area typically grow wheat, barley, canola, and other cereals. Some people have pig sheds, though most livestock in the district are sheep. There is a hospital which shares a lodge for elderly care.
Five main roads enter the town. It is located approximately northwest of Victoria's capital city Melbourne. A road passes through Birchip that divides the Wimmera region of Victoria from the Mallee region of Victoria. To travel to Birchip from Melbourne there are two preferred routes, one via the outskirts of Ballarat via the Sunraysia Highway and one around Bendigo via the Calder Highway. Each route's travel times are similar and the Ballarat route is more mountainous in some areas. There is an aerodrome for light aircraft.
With its neighbouring township Watchem Birchip has a football team competing in the North Central Football League.
Golfers play at the Birchip Golf Club on Watson Street.
Most sport in Birchip is played at the . The BCLC is home to Australian rules football, netball, hockey, cricket, tennis, golf and squash.