DONALD, VICTORIA

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Donald, the historical heart of the Wimmera, is essentially a service centre to the surrounding district where wheat, barley, fat lambs and wool are the main produce, although there has been some recent diversification into peas, canola, safflower and other crops.
Location: 260km north-west of Melbourne on the Sunraysia Highway. Map
Origin of name: originally called The Bridge and Richardson Bridge, the town's present name honours the Donald family, the original European settlers who established 'Banyenong', a grazing station, in 1844.
Brief history: the area is thought to have been occupied by the Wemba-Wemba Aborigines prior to white settlement. The first Europeans in the area were the party of surveyor Thomas Mitchell in 1836. When the expedition's botanist, named Richardson, fell in the river, Mitchell decided to name the waterway in his honour. The original camp here was set up by Johann Meyer in 1874. The lock-up and stables (1883), brick kiln and a shepherd's hut from the Donald family property - Banyenrong, which was opened up in 1844 - still remain. the town of Donald was surveyed and named in 1866.
Natural features: Richardson River; Mt Jeffcott Reserve; Lake Buloke (one of Victoria's largest lakes); Lake Cope Cope; Mount Jeffcott; Lake Wooroonook; Lake Jil Jil
Heritage features: A police camp recreated from heritage buildings.