WINDING ITS WAY through native forests and fertile farmlands, the majestic Goulburn River forms the backbone and lifeblood of the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria. Made up of a special mix of small towns including Murchison, Mooroopna, Dookie and Tatura, and the larger epicentre of Shepparton, the area enjoys a rich agricultural history and a strong sense of community.
“It’s a place full of opportunity, with diversity and celebration of difference at its core,” Carrie Donaldson, 51, says. Her family has lived all over the district for the past 150 years. “You’ll see history and heritage in the streetscapes, but it’s more understated than other Victorian towns that were built during the gold rush era. Scratch the surface and you’ll uncover amazing human stories, and that’s what I love about living here.”
Developed off the back of generations of migrants who were drawn to its wide open spaces, temperate climate and riverside position, the region is well known for its dairy, horticulture and manufacturing industries. The red-bricked canning factory of SPC (Shepparton Preserving Company) has been
