Kaniva's economy is heavily based on agriculture. According to the 2006 Census 31 percent of employed people are engaged in the sheep, cattle and grain farming industry. The wool industry is celebrated with Kaniva's 'sheep art'; statues along the main street painted by local community groups. When the local fuel station was threatened with closure the local community decided that they couldn’t afford to lose it. The nearest fuel station, located in Nhill, is an round trip. In 2004 the Kaniva Community Co-operative was formed and a decision was made to raise the money, over A$400 000 to buy the business. The Kaniva Community Roadhouse, colloquially known as "Wimpy", is today a valued community asset.
History
Squatter Heighway Jones of South Australia discovered the country around Kaniva in 1845. He claims to have had sheep grazing here by 1846 and the Tattyara run was gazetted in 1851. The homestead was only a few kilometres from the present townsite. Tattyara was named after the Tyatyalla Aborigines who inhabited the district. The post office opened on 1 December 1881 as Budjik and was renamed Kaniva in 1882. The origin of the name are uncertain. It may derive from Kinninvie in Durham, England, or from Cniva, a 3rd-century Gothic chieftain who began the invasion of the Roman Empire, or from an Aboriginal word. Kaniva Railway Station was constructed by Cashin & Turner, to the design of the Victorian Railways Department Architecture Branch, on the Dimboola-Serviceton line in 1887.
As of the 2016 census, 803 people resided in Kaniva. The median age was 49 years. Children aged 0–14 years made up 16.0% of the population. People over the age of 65 years made up 26.5% of the population There were slightly more females than males with 52.9% of the population female and 47.1% male. The average household size is 2.1 persons per household. The average number of children per family for families with children is 1.8. 81.4% of people in Kaniva were born in Australia. Of all persons living in Kaniva, 0.6% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. This is lower than for the state of Victoria and lower than the national average. The most common ancestries in Kaniva were Australian 36.9%, English 35.8%, Scottish 9.2%, Irish 6.1% and German 4.0%.
Events
The Kaniva Agricultural and Pastoral Society runs a show every October. The event is currently in its 128th year. The Kaniva Show is extremely well supported by the local community. The town holds an annual street Christmas party. The Western Highway is closed for two hours while the local people shop and socialise, celebrating the season, and children have a giant water fight.
The town has an Australian Rules football team Kaniva-Leeor competing in the Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League. Kaniva-Leeor United formed following the 1997 merger between Kaniva and Leeor and includes players from the Kaniva-Serviceton area. The team, called the Cougars, wear royal blue, green and white. Kaniva's hockey teams are part of the Wimmera Hockey Association. They wear blue and white uniforms. The men's team is known as the Cobras and juniors as the Raiders. Golfers play at the course of the Kaniva Golf Club on Miram Dryweather Road. Kaniva has four cricket teams: juniors, C, B and A Grade. The Kaniva C Grade won 2010 and 2011 cricket premiership.
Education
Kaniva has one school, Kaniva College, which teaches prep to Year 12 and had an enrolment of around 230 students as of 2012. Students come from the Kaniva township and as far away as Telopea Downs and Yanac. The first school opened in Kaniva in 1883, with a high school opening in 1963. The primary and secondary schools amalgamated in 2002 forming Kaniva College. 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of Kaniva High School and a celebration was held in mid-September.
