WELCOME TO DIMBOOLA (INCLUDING ANTWERP)

Dimboola is situated on the Wimmera River and was previously known as ‘Nine Creeks’. The ‘Gateway to the Little Desert’, Dimboola is the setting for Jack Hibberd’s renowned play, Dimboola. The area was traditionally known as ‘Watchegatcheca’ by the local Aboriginal People which means ‘wattle tree and white cockatoos’. The name Dimboola comes from the Ceylonese/Sri Lankan word Dimbula which means ‘land of figs’

EXPLORE

For those wanting to get back to nature, Dimboola is the gateway to the Little Dessert. The Little Dessert has many bush walking and 4WD tracks as well as camping facilities. There are fantastic camping facilities at Horseshoe and Ackle Bend.

A few kilometers west of town, next to the Western Highway, is Pink Lake. You can view the lake from the rest-stop beside the highway or walk down the path to the edge of the lake. Yes, it is Pink! The intensity of the pink varies with the amount of water in the lake. When the lake is drier more light is reflected from the white crystallized salt reducing the impact of the pink.

DAY TRIPS

Located 22km north of Dimboola is Antwerp. Antwerp was first settled by Europeans in 1846, when George Shaw and Horation Ellerman applied for 130,000 acres (530km2) for sheep grazing. Ellerman named the area after his birthplace, the Belgian city of Antwerp. In 1858 Moravian missionaries arrived in the area. By 1859 they had built a church and over subsequent years, baptised many local Aborigines. This is known as Ebenezer Mission Station, where the buildings still remain and are open to the public.

35km north west of Dimboola is the Glenlee Flora and Fauna Reserve.

EXPERIENCE

Dimboola has plenty of activities to entertain the whole family with the Dimboola Print Museum and the Sidney Nolan Gallery for the history and art enthusiasts.