Five towns to stop by on Victoria's Borung Highway

Getting in the car and heading off on a weekend away or a day trip to small and medium-sized towns down the highway can be a fulfilling experience with hidden gems and great local hospitality. Here are a few highlights down Victoria's Borung Highway.

From: West to east from Dimboola to Charlton in the state’s north-west.
Named after: The town of Borung, itself named for a type of Mallee tree or the Bouroung people who inhabited the shores of Lake Tyrrell.
Route numbers: C234, B200, C261 and C239.
Length: 140km
Best bit: The roads are pretty straight in Western Victoria and the landscapes flat so set the cruise control and wait for the surprising little towns.

Dimboola is perhaps most famous for the eponymous 1979 movie about a country wedding. It’s a fairly quiet yet historical town away from major routes, on the edge of the Little Desert National Park, and on the banks of the Wimmera River. Artist Sidney Nolan was stationed there during WWII and painted hauntingly beautiful landscapes as part of his Wimmera period. The nearby Pink Lake explodes into colour periodically, the river has some scenic walks and the town shops have a good range of necessities and browsing opportunities in typical country fashion.

The Little Desert National Park isn’t what you’d normally call a desert but 130,000 hectares of preserved scrublands, Mallee heath and swamps. It averages over 400mm of rain annually and around 200 species of birds love the park’s remoteness so it’s a haven for twitchers. Camping facilities are provided (or stay in Dimboola) and a handful of short walking trails cater to the casual visitor.

Warracknabeal is located on the mainly north-south Silo Art Trail with its colourfully painted grain storage towers and so gets quite a number of visitors. Its population of 2500 enjoys a quiet life but the town’s agricultural history is amply accessible through attractions such as the Wheatlands Machinery Museum, and things get livelier around the Easter Y-Fest festival. There’s a 4.5 kilometre walking track along the picturesque Yarriambiack Creek, or you might want to stay at the stately Glenwillan Homestead in nearby Wallup.

It’s a small detour south, but you wouldn’t want to miss the painted grain silo at Sheep Hills. The work of Melbourne artist Adnate, the group of six towering silos with their indigenous portraits form a powerful image against the endless plains and sky.

The town of Donald has a welcoming main street with shady verandas, a picnic spot beside the Avoca River and nearby Lake Buloke is famous for its birdlife, especially in spring and is welcoming to ramblers. Drop into Kooka’s Country Cookies to see where Australia’s favourite biscuits are made, and take home a pack or two.

Charlton marks the eastern end of the Borung and it’s a busy old place on the junction of the Calder Highway and Avoca River. Follow the art trail along the river, visit the town’s Golden Grains Museum for a taste of its agricultural history, drop into the Courthouse Gallery to view the works of local artists and don’t miss The Rex art deco cinema and perhaps stay for a movie.

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