Maffra

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For the town in New South Wales, see Maffra, New South Wales.
See also: Mafra (disambiguation)

Maffra
Victoria
Maffra1.jpg
Maffra streetscape, 2013
Maffra is located in Shire of Wellington
Maffra
Maffra
Coordinates37°57′S 146°59′E / 37.950°S 146.983°E / -37.950; 146.983Coordinates: 37°57′S 146°59′E / 37.950°S 146.983°E / -37.950; 146.983
Population4,316 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)3860
Elevation27 m (89 ft)
Location
  • 221 km (137 mi) E of Melbourne
  • 24 km (15 mi) NW of Sale
  • 62 km (39 mi) W of Bairnsdale
LGA(s)Shire of Wellington
State electorate(s)Gippsland East
Federal Division(s)Gippsland
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
20.0 °C
68 °F		 8.1 °C
47 °F		 581.9 mm
22.9 in

Maffra is a town in Victoria, Australia, 220 kilometres (140 mi) east of Melbourne. It is in the Shire of Wellington local government area. It relies mainly on dairy farming and other agriculture,[2] and is the site of one of Murray-Goulburn Cooperative's eight processing plants in Victoria. Maffra is a detour off the Princes Highway and is near Sale, Stratford, Newry, Tinamba, Heyfield and Rosedale.[2] At the 2016 census, Maffra had a population of 4,316.[1]

History[]

The town began as an outstation of the region's first cattle run, Boisdale, named by pioneer grazier Lachlan Macalister after a village on the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The town appears to have taken its name from a group of squatters from Maffra, a village in the Monaro region of NSW,[citation needed] with its location between current Maffra and Newry being written on an early map. The squatters moved on, but the name remained. The Monaro Maffra was probably connected to Mafra, a town in Portugal.[citation needed]

The township was settled in the 1860s, the Post Office opening on 20 July 1864.[3] Maffra railway station on the Maffra railway line opened in 1887. The last regular passenger service ran in 1977. The station precinct is now an industrial precinct and the former station building is used for community purposes.

Maffra was long the beef cattle capital of West Gippsland and, for many years, the only beet sugar processing centre in the country.[citation needed] The Beet Museum, set in the Port of Maffra Park, has relics from the defunct sugar beet industry. The building is a relocated historic weighbridge building, and is lined with pine boards from the home of Charles and Grace Quirk, one of Maffra's first cottages.[2]

Today[]

Maffra hosts a Mardi Gras every March, the Maffra and District Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Show in October and a tennis tournament at Easter.

Maffra is considered[by whom?] to have one of the prettiest main streets (Johnson St) in Victoria. The Wellington Shire Council removed the 100+ year old trees that line it because of disease, but has since replaced them with young oaks.

Maffra has two primary schools, the Maffra Primary School and St Mary's Primary School (Catholic). Maffra also has a public secondary school, Maffra Secondary College, which has a student enrolment of around 700. Maffra Secondary has a strong academic program and is involved in a number of community service programs.

The [4] is for lovers of old cars. It is housed in a huge old sugar beet building which the Car Club has cleaned and given new life.

In recent years Maffra has become a hub for backpackers seeking to complete Regional work requirements to achieve a second year visa. With growing salad and vegetable farming industries in the surrounding area it is considered a great town for working travelers. Maffra Lodge provides accommodation all year round to cater for backpackers.

A local group is working at Bellbird Corner, restoring the area to the popular picnic area it was in the 1900s.[2]


Plant toxicity for dogs[]

In July 2021, Victoria had over 50 pet dogs suffering liver toxicity, with 14 dogs known to have died from the condition. The source of the issue was traced to indospicine sourced from Indogofera plants. Many of the dogs had eaten raw pet food sourced from a knackery at Maffra. No specific source for the contamination was immediately identified, as these plants are not normally found in southern Australia.[5] This toxicity has previously been seen in dogs fed meat from Australian feral camels, common in northern Australia.

Sport[]

The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Gippsland Football League. Its senior side was at one point the most successful in the league, winning 6 premierships in the early 2000s. [6]

Maffra is also home to a field hockey club, fielding junior, women's and men's teams in the East Gippsland Hockey Association playing at Cameron Sports Complex, Morison Street. Also at this complex, is Maffra's Amateur Basketball Association. This hosts young and old teams, as well as Men and Women's CBL teams.

Golfers play at the course of the Maffra Golf Club on Fulton Road.[7] The Maffra Eagles football netball club are the most prestigious team in their league. Maffra can beat any team they come up against.

Notable people[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Maffra (Urban Centre)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Maffra, Victoria - Towns in Australia". Archived from the original on 6 June 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  3. ^ Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 13 March 2021
  4. ^ Gippsland Vehicle Collection Motor Museum
  5. ^ Victorian dog deaths caused by toxin from native plant, but link to food still unclear, Emma Field, ABC News Online, 2021-07-21
  6. ^ Full Points Footy, West Gippsland Latrobe Football League, archived from the original on 16 March 2009, retrieved 15 April 2009
  7. ^ Golf Select, Maffra, retrieved 11 May 2009

External links[]

Media related to Maffra, Victoria at Wikimedia Commons

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