Learmonth is a picturesque township, located in Central Victoria, Australia, west of the state capital

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, and 23 kilometres north west of the regional city centre of

Ballarat Ballarat ( ) is a city in the Central Highlands (Victoria), Central Highlands of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 Census, Ballarat had a population of 116,201, making it the third largest city in Victoria. Estimated resid ...

. Learmonth is located on the

Sunraysia Highway The Sunraysia Highway (route B220) is a arterial north-south route in western Victoria. The highway extends north a length of 331 km starting from the Western Freeway near Ballarat to the Calder Highway near Ouyen. It is the north-west ...

, on the road to Avoca, St Arnaud and the Pyrenees wine region, and is surrounded by an agricultural, pastoral and dairy region. At the 2021 census, Learmonth had a population of 396.

History

The township was first established in 1837. It was the original local government office headquarters of the Shire of Ballarat. Lake Learmonth Post Office opened on 13 February 1858 and was renamed Learmonth in 1860. The town was named in reference to its position beside Lake Learmonth, which itself was named after the brothers

Thomas Livingston Learmonth Thomas Livingstone Learmonth of Parkhill (2 May 1818 – 28 October 1903) was an early settler of Australia, of Scots descent, who established himself as a squatter on land around Ballarat, Victoria, in the 1830s. Life He was born simply Tho ...

and

Somerville Learmonth Somerville may refer to: *Somerville College, Oxford, a constituent college of the University of Oxford Places *Somerville, Victoria, Australia * Somerville, Western Australia, a suburb of Kalgoorlie, Australia * Somerville, New Zealand, a subur ...

who squatted in the area in 1838. In November 1859, Thomas Learmonth made a donation towards building a church in the town:

Thomas Learmonth, Esq., of Ercildoun, with his usual liberality has contributed £20 towards the erection of a Church of England place of worship at Lake Learmonth.

One Learmonth brother in particular, was implicitly aware his shepherds were using skulls of Wadawurrung people on stakes to ward people off his property.

Today

The town has a large lake,

Lake Learmonth Lake Learmonth is a lake located in central Victoria, Australia. The Djadjawurrung Dja Dja Wurrung (Pronounced Ja-Ja-war-rung), also known as the Djaara or Jajowrong people and Loddon River tribe, are an Aboriginal Australian people who are ...

, which is popular for water sports, fishing and family activities. This lake has always been a natural water hole and swamp, but was enhanced by human intervention in the late 1800s, resulting in a fuller and more defined lake area. Picnic areas, children's playgrounds and nature walks exist on the eastern and northern side of the lake. Gently rolling ancient volcanic hills surround the town, and the soil is rich and red; good for growing plants and trees. The natural birdlife in the area is well appreciated by locals. Learmonth today has a post office, pub, cafe, antique store, three churches, shire hall, historic society, police station, art hall, community garden, lawn bowling club, aged care facility and a friendly and active community life. There is a free community newsletter named 'The Learmonth Thunderer', run by volunteers. There is also an

Australian Rules Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

football team competing in the

Central Highlands Football League The Central Highlands Football League is an Australian Rules Football League in the Ballarat Ballarat ( ) is a city in the Central Highlands (Victoria), Central Highlands of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 Census, B ...

. A historic walking tour runs up and down the main street (High Street) highlighting many interesting former businesses of the early settler and colonial period.

Population

In the 2016 Census, there were 438 people in Learmonth. 87.9% of people were born in Australia and 93.0% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 30.9% and Catholic 28.2%.

References

External links

Learmonth & District Historical Society

Learmonth Football & Netball Club
Towns in Victoria (Australia) {{VictoriaAU-geo-stub