Harrow has a different feel to the rest of the West Wimmera. Set along the banks of the scenic Glenelg River, here silos and wheat farms give way to undulating paddocks and red gums. This a town bursting with history: its sleepy quaint streetscape is home to Victoria’s oldest inland pub, its longest continuous licenced store and a 19th-century-listed heritage log lock up. And while it has one foot firmly in the past, the other is planted very much in the present with a dynamic local community passionate in keeping the town’s legacy burning. And boy does this place have some stories to tell.
West Wimmera has produced its fair share of sporting heroes over the years, but none more celebrated than Unaarrimin – better known as Johnny Mullagh. Drop by the Discovery Centre to learn all about this champion Aboriginal cricketer and the incredible story behind Australia’s first international XI. It’s a stunning collection – including a collection of red-gum bats and Sir Donald Bradman’s last ever bat used in his infamous swansong match. But the highlight is the Johnny Mullagh Medal, an award handed to the player of the match in the MCG Boxing Day Test.
For more insight into the Indigenous culture of traditional owners of the land (the Wotjobaluk and Jardwarjali people) take a stroll along the Glenelg River where a signed walk leads you past scar trees, ring trees and, a bit further afield, dugout canoe trees. Down here you can also fish for redfin alongside a sprawling campground among red gums.
From the annual cricket game to its theatrical sound-and-light production, Harrow knows how to put on a good show. And for further background on its history, drop in to its museum, where you’ll find some unexpected finds including an original Ned Kelly death mask.