Main centre (Montgomery Street) with the original Post Office (1858) in the background.
This lovely building is now a private residence.
The Skipton Post Office has moved to the Skipton Roadhouse.
Skipton
Skipton is a town in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. The town is situated on the Glenelg Highway 166 kilometres west of the state capital, Melbourne and 52 kilometres south west of the regional centre, Ballarat.
Part of Corangamite Shire's Local Government Area, Skipton is located at the northern boundary of the Shire, in the Northern Ward, along with Lismore and Derrinallum and other rural communities.
Skipton is on situated the banks of Mount Emu Creek and at the 2006 census had a population of 482.
Skipton, Victoria is affectionally known as "The Home of the Platypus", due to the thriving platypus population living in the Mount Emu Creek. These shy little creatures may be seen at dawn and at dusk. There is a designated Platypus Viewing PLatform in Stewart Park.
Skipton is named after Skipton, in Yorkshire, England, (the word 'Skipton' means ''Sheep Town")
Skipton was first established in 1839 as a pastoral run and a town site was surveyed in 1852. The town was settled some years later and the Post Office opened on 6 March 1858.
In 2014, the people of Skipton celebrated the 175th Anniversary in grand style with events held throughout the year. A calendar of events was updated regularly and locals were treated to many special events tomark the special milestone.
(A photographic record of 'The Year That Was!!' is on this webpage).
The town held the first Agricultural Show in the Western District in 1859, featuring some of the finest wool and the reputation of the Western District breeding rams grew in popularity amongst farmers in the wool industry.
During the mid-1990's, on "Baangal", a property just to the west of Skipton, very successful Sheep & Wool Expos were held featuring Victorian State Shearing Competitions, Sheep Dog Trials, Fleece Competition and the very popular Skipton Ute Show. It was decided to add the Agricultural Sheep & Wool Expo in conjunction with extremely popular and very long running Skipton Annual Art & Craft Festivals (23+ years) taking the Wool Show in Skipton full circle.
These Annual events always attracted large crowds to Skipton and raised money for our local Beaufort & Skipton Health Services and Skipton Hospital.
Known as 'The Cream of the Western District' the main agricultural product of Skipton & District is Fine Wool, with farmers also running cattle and sheep for meat production.
The district farmers are able
to grow a wide range of crops. The bright yellow of the Canola crops are a real feature when flowering and successful wheat, oats, and other cereals make this a very important agricultural district.
The Skipton-Ballarat Rail-Trail allows
cyclists to ride between Skipton and Ballarat, in safety away from the road traffic, enjoying recreational time to enjoy the great views with great stopping places along the route.
Skipton Monthly Variety Market is held on the second Saturday of each month, with Stalls under cover at the Mechanics Hall in Anderson Street. Well worth a visit there is something for everyone in the well stocked stalls.
New Stallholders are welcomed.
Skipton has a football team competing in the Central Highlands Football League.
Skipton Golf & Bowls Club on Geelong Road, attracts Golfers from all areas. The picturesque golf course available to green fee players seven days a week.
A Par 3 Course was introduced for those with limited time to play the shortened course, or for those wanting to perfect their shorter game. Cards modified for the shorter Par 3 Course are alongside the 18 Hole Cards at the Club.
Skipton's Bowlers won the Division 4 Premiership Cup in 2021-2022 Season and are doing quite well again this season. If you want to join them come along on a Thursday Afternoon and introduce yourself to Frank and Brendan.
Cick HERE to listen to the actual call of the 1941 Melbourne Cup.
Thank you to Everyone who joined in the fun of Skipton Hal Bale Competition. Arranged in a twinkling with conversations with Corangamite Shire Officer for the concept of getting people out and about after the 2020 COVID year promoting Tourism throughout the Shire and getting peple to visit neighbouring twons for a drive around. Connecting Communities Officers, because there was no response from Skipton at all to the Entry to the Competition it was decided that SCN would hold a separate Hay Bale Competition so in short time and contributions of hay from three farmers, we had a "Dickins"!! to get our bales in to town and on site because our farmers all had their workers and more importantly their forklifts tied up, working, it's the busiest time of year, the harvest season. With no 'Registered Tractors" available to assist us Telstra were indeed the winners until I managed to find quite arguably 'the busiest of our farmers' who graciously accepted to drop bales all around town, talented artists to dress that bales and voila, we had a show and 22 bales. Many thanks to all who voted and to all who waere involved. A wonderful Show, lots of memories.
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