Kaniva, Victoria
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Kaniva Victoria |
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 Kaniva
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| Coordinates | 36°22′0″S 141°14′0″E / 36.36667°S 141.23333°ECoordinates: 36°22′0″S 141°14′0″E / 36.36667°S 141.23333°E |
| Population | 1,061 (2011 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 3419 |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of West Wimmera |
| State electorate(s) | Lowan |
| Federal Division(s) | Mallee |
Kaniva is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Western Highway, north of Little Desert National Park, in the Shire of West Wimmera local government area. It is located roughly 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of the South Australian border and 43 kilometres (27 mi) east of Bordertown. At the 2011 census, Kaniva had a population of 1,061. The town is commonly used as a rest point for those travelling to Adelaide. The Kaniva region has some rare flora and fauna. The rare south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo is found in the region. The Shire of West Wimmera prohibits the felling of dead trees to ensure that they have adequate nesting sites.
Kaniva's economy is heavily based on agriculture. According to the 2006 Census 31 percent of employed people are engaged in the sheep, cattle and grain farming industry. The wool industry is celebrated with Kaniva's 'sheep art'; statues along the main street painted by local community groups.
When the local fuel station was threatened with closure the local community decided that they couldn’t afford to lose it. The nearest fuel station, located in Nhill, is an 80 kilometres (50 mi) round trip. In 2004 the Kaniva Community Co-operative was formed and a decision was made to raise the money, over A$400 000 to buy the business. The Kaniva Community Roadhouse, colloquially known as ‘Wimpy’, is today a valued community asset.
Squatter Heighway Jones of South Australia discovered the country around Kaniva in 1845. He claims to have had sheep grazing here by 1846 and the Tattyara run was gazetted in 1851. The homestead was only a few kilometres from the present townsite. Tattyara was named after the Tyatyalla Aborigines who inhabited the district. The post office opened on 1 December 1881 as Budjik and was renamed Kaniva in 1882. The origin of the name are uncertain. It may derive from Kinninvie in Durham, England, or from Cniva, a 3rd-century Gothic chieftain who began the invasion of the Roman Empire, or from an Aboriginal word. Kaniva Railway Station was constructed by Cashin & Turner, to the design of the Victorian Railways Department Architecture Branch, on the Dimboola-Serviceton line in 1887.
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