Apsley

Driving along the Wimmera Highway, when you cross the South Australian border into Victoria, the first town to welcome you is the historic village of Apsley.

Surrounded by beautiful Red Gums, wetlands, flora and fauna, all still found in their natural environments.

If bushwalking is your passion, Newlands Nature Walking Trail is one for you. Federation Corner is the start of the easy all weather walking track linking the township of Apsley to the picturesque Newlands Lake.

Meandering through 258 hectares of natural unspoilt bushland, the

5 km walk (or a shorter version if you choose) takes you into amazing stands of stringbarks, banksias and rare orchids of the Newlands Lake Reserve.

Established in 1855 the Apsley Racing Club is now the oldest surviving racing club in Victoria - even predating Australia’s icon sporting event, the Melbourne Cup.

There is an outstanding collection of historic buildings around the district; many of these were built by Chinese labourers as they travelled through to the goldfields from the port of Robe, during the gold rush period of the 1850’s.

A short drive south is the tiny hamlet of Dergholm adjacent to the Dergholm State Park with the unusual and unique green granite Bailey’s Rocks, there’s a lovely picnic ground set amongst natural bushland where you can picnic or enjoy a BBQ or go for a stroll through the bush and forget the outside world!

Call into the Apsley Café for more information.

DISTRICT FEATURES

Newlands Nature Walking Trail: Federation Corner is the start of the easy all weather walking track linking the township of Apsley to the picturesque Newlands Lake. Meandering through 258 hectares of natural unspoilt bushland, the 5 km walk (or a shorter version if you choose) takes you into amazing stands of stringbarks, banksias and rare orchids of the Boikerbert Reserve.

Apsley Historic Walk: Take a stroll on this well signposted walk to learn about Apsley’s history. Start at Federation Corner.

Flowering Gum: Located in Wallace Street, this gum is said to be the largest flowering gum in the Southern Hemisphere.

Apsley Estate Garden and Wines: explore this delightful garden and boutique winery 1km from town centre. Cellar door tastings and sales.

Kanya Garden and Iris at Benayeo: featuring hundreds of bearded iris. Iris sales.

Jimmy Tarpot Memorial: Member of Aboriginal Cricket Team of 1868. Memorial inside cemetery gates.

Dergholm State Park: situated 44 kms south of Apsley. Originally inhabited by the Aboriginal people of the Kanal Qundidj Clan. Baileys Rocks massive five million year old pink and green boulders are a feature of the park. Bushwalking trails, picnic areas and public amenities. Home of Red Cap, member of the Aboriginal Cricket Team of 1868.

Open Gardens: 1st week of November annually - Kanya Garden and Iris (Benayeo), Ferndale Garden (Langkoop) and Apsley Estate Garden and Wines.

PLACES TO EAT

Facilities

Shopping Centre: Café – Eat in or Takeaway meals, Newsagent, Fuel, Hotel, Post Office and Gift Shop, EFTPOS facilities.

Golf Club: Picturesque 18 hole winter golf course with sand scrapes.

Park with free BBQ facilities, Play ground and Public Toilets.

Recreation Reserve: Tennis Courts, Football Oval and Netball Courts.

Things to do

Newlands Nature Walking Trail

Taste the local wines

Historic Walk along Main Street

Wander through magnificent open gardens

Little Willow Farm Sculptures (15km north of town)

Bailey’s Rocks (44km south of town)