What’s in a name? In the case of Mirboo, it’s “kidney,” a curious moniker derived from the language of the local Aboriginal people. Mirboo, a small town nestled in the Strzelecki Ranges of Victoria, Australia, didn’t start with that name. Its story began with the promise of timber and the arrival of the railway. The year was 1885. A steam locomotive chugged into a fledgling settlement then known as “Terminus.” Mirboo North, as it would be christened in 1929, began to take root. Imagine those early days, when towering Mountain Ash trees dominated the landscape, echoing with the sounds of axes and saws. The heart of this burgeoning town beat to the rhythm of the railway and the allure of rich farmland. As Mirboo North grew, so did its industries. A butter factory, established in 1893, marked a significant turn, its churn churning out prosperity alongside creamy goodness. The sweet aroma of dairy likely mingled with the smoky scent of steam engines, painting a sensory portrait of a town on the rise. Mirboo North even had a taste of Hollywood when one of its own, Tim Forsyth, soared to Olympic glory, winning silver in the high jump at the 1992 Barcelona games. Although the railway and the butter factory are now relics of the past, Mirboo North endures, its spirit as resilient as the Strzelecki Ranges that embrace it. Today, amidst the rolling hills and verdant forests, Mirboo North stands as a testament to those early pioneers, their legacy etched into the very fabric of this charming Australian town.
Kororoit Creek
Is this where the river meets the sea? This is Kororoit Creek. It flows right here through Melbourne’s western suburbs