Navarre is a town in the

Wimmera The Victorian government's Wimmera Southern Mallee subregion is part of the Grampians region in western Victoria. It includes most of what is considered the Wimmera, and part of the southern Mallee region. The subregion is based on the social ...

region of the Australian state of

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

. The town is in the

Shire of Northern Grampians The Shire of Northern Grampians is a local government area in the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia, located in the western part of the state. It covers an area of and in June 2018 had a population of 11,431, having fallen from 12,087 in 20 ...

and

Shire of Pyrenees The Shire of Pyrenees is a local government area (LGA) in Victoria, Australia, located in the western part of the state. It covers an area of and in June 2018 had a population of 7,353. It includes the towns of Avoca, Beaufort, Lexton and ...

local government areas, north west of the state capital,

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

and north east of the regional centre of Stawell. At the , Navarre and the surrounding area had a population of 99. Navarre began as the site of an

inn Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging, and usually, food and drink. Inns are typically located in the country or along a highway. Before the advent of motorized transportation, they also provided accomm ...

established in 1848 alongside a

stock route A stock route, also known as travelling stock route (TSR), is an authorised thoroughfare for the walking of domestic livestock such as sheep or cattle from one location to another in Australia. The stock routes across the country are colloquial ...

. This was joined by a second inn in 1850. The discovery of gold at

Mount Alexander Mount Alexander is a mountain located approximately 125 km north-west of Melbourne, near the town of Harcourt. It rises 350 metres above the surrounding area to a level of 744 metres above sea level. Being a prominent local landmark, ...

in 1851 saw the inns become a popular stopping point for miners on their way to the diggings. The town was surveyed in 1855 and renamed after the medieval European

Kingdom of Navarre The Kingdom of Navarre ( ), originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, occupied lands on both sides of the western Pyrenees, with its northernmost areas originally reaching the Atlantic Ocean (Bay of Biscay), between present-day Spain and France. The me ...

. Navarre Post Office opened on 2 February 1856. The town was officially proclaimed in 1861 and in 1868 was host to a store, post office and school. In May 1914 a railway station, weighbridge and repair area were constructed to service the newly opened Navarre - Crowlands Railway. For forty years it carried passengers, cargo, livestock and timber to the connecting stations to its south. In 1954 the line was closed and the station and service facilities quickly fell into ruin;Robson, David (2000). Navarre, 'Rails to Wood': The opening and closing of the Navarre Railway Line 1914-1954. Landsborough and District Historical Group, Ararat. little remains today to the casual observer. In aerial photographs parch marks are clearly visible across the nearby countryside and indicate the original route of the line. Navarre today is a farming community, surrounded by prime agricultural land. The town is serviced by a co-operative general store, public hall and primary school. Navarre Football Club play in the

Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League The Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League is an Australian rules football league based in central Victoria (Australia), Victoria. This is a minor league with clubs coming from towns near the regional centres of Maryborough, ...

References

Towns in Victoria (state) 1861 establishments in Australia {{VictoriaAU-geo-stub