Tragowel, Victoria


Tragowel is a small town in the Wimmera region of western Victoria, Australia. It is located north-west of the state capital, Melbourne.

History

The Tragowel Plains Irrigation Trust and the Macorna North Irrigation Trust, provided water for farms, crop irrigation and livestock.

Burke and Wills

The expedition by Burke and Wills to the Gulf of Carpentaria passed through the Tragowel area. On 2 September 1860, the expedition, led by Robert O'Hara Burke, arrived at the homestead of Abraham Booth and John Holloway, called Tragowell Station, on the Loddon River.. The homestead has since been demolished, but a piano played by Burke still exists, and is owned by Holloway's grandson.

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Tragowel was listed as a state suburb of Victoria. The area also encompassed parts of Appin, Dingwall, Kerang East, Lake Meran and Macorna. On census night, the population of Tragowel was 336, which included 178 males and 158 females, with a median age of 43.
262 residents of Tragowel were born in Australia. Other birthplaces include the Philippines, England and Russia. The remaining 16.6% did not disclose their country of birth.
The religious affiliation of Tragowel is quite varied. 26.7% of residents identified themselves as Catholic, 14.8% Uniting Church, 7.4% Anglican and 7.1% Presbyterian and Reformed. 16.9% declared no religious affiliation.

Transport

Tragowel is not situated on any major highways, but the Loddon Valley Highway runs 4 km to the west of the town. There are currently no sealed roads leading into or out of the town.
The Piangil railway line runs through the town, but Tragowel railway station closed in the 1970s and nothing remains of it.
The nearest airport is located in Kerang. There are no regular flights in or out of the airport.