Picola

Picola Victoria
Picola
Picola
Coordinates	36°00′0″S 145°08′0″E / 36.00000°S 145.13333°ECoordinates: 36°00′0″S 145°08′0″E / 36.00000°S 145.13333°E
Population	334 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	3639
Location	246 km (153 mi) N of Melbourne 56 km (35 mi) N of Shepparton 50 km (31 mi) E of Echuca 14 km (9 mi) N of Nathalia
LGA(s)	Shire of Moira
State electorate(s)	Shepparton
Federal Division(s)	Murray
Localities around Picola: Barmah New South Wales New South Wales Picola West Picola Yeilima Lower Moira Kotupna Nathalia

Picola /pɪˈkɒlə/ is a town in northern Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Moira local government area, 246 kilometres (153 mi) from the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2011 census, Picola had a population of 334.^[1]

Picola Post Office opened on 24 August 1878 and closed in late 2010. The Australia Post outlet was then taken over by the Picola Hotel, until early 2011. The hotel remains a community postal agent.^[2]

The Picola Hotel offers a variety of services, from meals and functions, weekly raffles, and is now the local milk bar, community postal agent and V/Line ticket agency.

The railway to Picola opened in 1896,^[3] and until the line closed in 1986,^[3] the town was a railhead for loading of wheat and livestock from the local area, and timber from the nearby Barmah National Park.^[4]

Today the Picola district is an irrigated, mixed farming area. It is serviced by two return V/Line coach services on weekdays, originating in Barmah, both connecting in Shepparton, a 45-minute drive away, with train services to Melbourne Southern Cross station.^[5]

The town hosts a popular old-time dance once a month throughout the year in its public hall. The dance features local bands and musicians who provide a great social evening for families and friends. The program includes a range of more structured dances as well as fun dances and a fox trot monte carlo. There are also special themed dances around Easter and Christmas times. The hall itself has an interesting history – after originally being built over a hundred years ago it has burnt down twice, meaning the current hall is the third hall the town has had, rebuilt each time by the hard-working local community.

The town is home to Picola United Football Club competing in the Picola & District Football League, and the Picola Bowls Club, competing in the Murray Bowls Association.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Picola (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
2. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 2008-04-11.
3. "VR timeline". VR History. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
4. "Picola, Victoria". Travelmate. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
5. "Barmah to Melbourne via Shepparton or Heathcote". V/Line. Retrieved 2016-04-05.