Murrayville

The town of Murrayville, with a population of about 350, is situated on the Mallee Highway 22 kilometers from the South Australian Border and 20 kilometers from the Kow Plain Homestead. To the north of the town is the Murray Sunset National park and to the South the Big Desert State park; Murrayville is an ideal place to stay and explore the wonders of the Mallee.  July to early November is the best time to view the many wild flowers that can be seen along the Mallee Highway and side roads.

Settlement of the Murrayville District began from the South Australian border in 1908 and the eastern side in 1911. In an area of low rainfall Murrayville is fortunate in having good underground  water. The district has always been predominately a grain growing and sheep area but recent years have seen farming enterprises such as olives, goats, permaculture and potatoes become part of the rural scene. 

The first town blocks were auctioned at No1 Bore ,Panitya  on the 6th June 1910 and the development of the town began soon after.

Murrayville relies on its rural sector but tourism is becoming more important as four wheel drivers, naturalists and visitors discover what the Mallee has to offer.

Large fires raged through 180,000 hectares of the Big Desert before Christmas 2002, many of the favourite spots were burnt. Heavy rains of over 2 inches fell on the 20th February 2003, but because of two dry seasons ,the re-growth has been slow. Never the less there was a good display of wildflowers during September 2005 .

The wildflowers were very good in 2007 

Community Services

Murrayville Community College: Prep to Year 12

Murrayville Bush Nursing Centre

Murrayville Neighborhood House. Internet access Monday to  Thursdays 10am to 3pm

Murrayville Pioneer Park, Play Ground and Barbecue

Lions Park, Picnic area and Information boards.

Solar heated swimming pool- open November to March

FM Radio Station 3MBR 103.5

Local Businesses

Emergency Services

Police                        Ambulance                                Fire Brigade                             SES

Accommodation

  Murrayville Mallee Fowl Hotel Motel   50952120

 Murrayville Caravan Park 

 Carina Lodge Bed & Breakfast and Restaurant    50952241

 Camping sites in Big Desert & Sunset Country

Recreation & Sporting Clubs

Basketball;    Football ;    Netball;       Cricket;    Golf ;   Tennis ;   Bowls;    Swimming.

Clubs & Associations                                       

  Day Care 

 CWA at Cowangie                                                  Senior Citizens

       Town Attractions

Take a walk around the town and admire the old shop fronts, the restored window at Nanna's Deli (shop now closed & for sale)

 visit the Whistle stop Craft Shop in the Old Railway Station, all craft is locally made. The Craft Shop is open 10.30am -4,30pm Monday, Thursday & Friday 10.30-2.30 Sunday. Can be opened by appointment by phoning 5095 2004 during business hours or calling at Pat's on the corner of Reed Street and the Highway. 

The Murrayville Museum established 2004  Is housed in  the old Buffalo Lodge Building at the corner of Gray Street & Sharrock Street. The museum houses a collection of items which give a picture of the development of the district. 

 Pine Hill Walk Collect a leaflet on Pine Hill Walk and the Flora Reserve from the box near the craft shop and if time permits take a leisurely walk. 

The following is a list of plants that can be found on the walk

Mulga Acacia brachybotrya                          Hakea Wattle Acacia hakeoides

Small Cooba Acacia ligulata                           Umbrella Wattle Acacia Osswaldii

Hard-leaf Wattle Acacia sclerophylla               Bladder Salt bush Atriplex vesicara

Turpentine Bush Beyeria lechenaultii               Sweet Appleberry Billardiera cymosa

Variable Daisy Brachyscome ciliaris                  Scrub Cypress Pine Callitris preissi

Desert Cassia Cassia nemophila                       Dodder Cassytha melantha

Small-leaf Clematis Clematis microphylla          Common Billy- button Craspedia glauca

Black Anther Lily Dianella revoluta                  Desert Hop Dodonaea stenozya

Narrow Leaf Hop Dodonaea viscosa                   Ruby Salt Bush Enchylaena tomentosa

Common Emu Bush Eremophila glabra              Dumosa Mallee Eucalyptus dumosa

White Mallee Eucalyptus gracilis                   Slender Leaf Mallee Eucalyptus foecunda

Satin Everlasting Helichrysum leucapsidum 

Creamy Honey Myrtle Melaleuca acuminata        Moonah Melaleua lanceolata

Showy Daisy Bush Olearia pimeloides                 Mueller Daisy Bush Olearia mueller

Weeping Pittosporum Pittosporum phylliraeoides     Podolepis Podolepis

Rabbit Tails Psilotus seminudus                           Midget Greenhood Pterostylis mutica

Prickly Salt Bush Salsola kali                            Sweet Quandong Santalum acuminata

Camel Bush Teucrium sessiliflorum                       Scented Sun-orchid Thelymitra nuda

Common Sunray Triptilodiscus pygmaeus   

Wooly New Holland Daisy Vittadinia cuneata

Stiff Westringia Westringia rigida                        Early Nancy Wurmbea dioica

Shrubby Twin-leaf Zygophyllum aurantiacum         Pale Twin-leaf Zygophyllum glaucum

       

             Desert cassia      Early Nancy        Sweet Appleberry

    

Podoleps

Pine Hill Walk- Birds

The following is a list of Birds that have been observed between 1998 and 2002  by Raymond Brereton and Rodney Thurlow. Most of these bird can be observed throughout the Mallee, along roadsides and in gardens and bush land.

Splendid Fairy Wren             Budgeriagar                     Crested Pigeon

Sparrow Hawk  Red Rumped Parrot   Tawny Frogmouth    New Holland Honeyeater

Flora Reserve

(situated at the west end of town)

Approximately 65  species of  plants have been identified in this area. The following are an example of   ones flowering in the Spring .

Grevillia Huegellii          Senna                 Glischrocaryon  behrii        Phebalium bullatum

  Comb Grevillia            Desert Cassia             Golden Pennants                Desert Phebalium

Halgania cyanea     Lasiopetalium behrii      Olearia ramulosa             Thysanotus baueri

  Rough Halgania          Velvet- bush                  Twiggy daisy-bush            Fringe - lily

A large information board at Lions park shows maps and places of interest around the district

Information boards in the Gazebo opposite the Take Away  on the Highway tell of the history of the town  and show pictures of the Flora & Fauna of the Big Desert and list plants that can be seen on the Pine Hill Walk and in the Flora Reserve.

A Museum is in the process of being established in the old Buffalo Lodge in Gray Street. Contact03 50952045

Exploring the Big Desert & The  Sunset Country

There are now many well marked tracks suitable for 4 WD vehicles that lead into these areas, keep on the tracks.

The best time to explore these areas is between March and October as temperatures in the area can be very high during summer. Always carry water with you. 

For further information on the Big Desert go to the Big Desert: & Mallee Fowl pages on this site.

Murrayville Centenary.  Murrayville will be celebrating its centenary during Easter 2010. For further information on this event go to the News & events page on this site.

kowplains@gmail.com