Durham Ox is a small rural locality in the
Shire of Loddon
The Shire of Loddon is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the northern part of the state. It covers an area of and in 2021 had a population of 7,759.
It includes the towns of Inglewood, Boort, Serpentine, Pyramid ...
in
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
,
Australia. It is situated near the Serpentine Creek, a tributary of the
Loddon River
The Loddon River, an inland river of the northcentral catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the lower Riverina bioregion and Central Highlands and Loddon Mallee regions of the Australian state of Victoria. The headwater ...
. This is a highly valuable natural resource to both the local tourism and agricultural economies.
At the , Durham Ox had a population of 74.
This small but vibrant community is widely known because of the 'OX' landmark that lies on the Loddon Valley Highway. The 'OX' stands next to the former Durham Ox Store site which was destroyed by a fire in September 1996 and never rebuilt. Post boxes, bus stop, telephone box and a parking area also mark this spot. The name and image on the landmark are derived from the
Durham Ox
The Durham Ox (March 1796 – 15 April 1807) was a steer who became famous in the early 19th century for his shape, size and weight. He was an early example of what became the Shorthorn breed of cattle and helped establish the standards by which ...
, a prize 19th-century bull.
In the 2011 flood event, the Serpentine creek which runs close to the town, overflowed and inundated several houses in the area, as well as the Durham Ox Memorial Hall, the Durham Ox Church, and the historic Durham Ox Inn. The church was lost to fire some time later.
References
External links
Towns in Victoria (Australia)
Towns in Loddon Campaspe
Shire of Loddon
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