Merbein, Victoria

Merbein Victoria
Commercial Street, the main street of Merbein
Merbein
Coordinates	34°10′S 142°03′E / 34.167°S 142.050°E / -34.167; 142.050Coordinates: 34°10′S 142°03′E / 34.167°S 142.050°E / -34.167; 142.050
Population	4,681 (2014 census)
Established	1912
Postcode(s)	3505
Elevation	56 m (184 ft)
Location	554 km (344 mi) NW of Melbourne 15 km (9 mi) W of Mildura
LGA(s)	Rural City of Mildura
State electorate(s)	Mildura
Federal Division(s)	Mallee
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 23.7 °C 75 °F 9.7 °C 49 °F 285.1 mm 11.2 in
Localities around Merbein: Yelta New South Wales New South Wales Merbein West Merbein New South Wales Merbein South Merbein South Birdwoodton

Merbein is a town outside Mildura, Victoria, in the Sunraysia region of Australia. It is on the Calder Highway between Mildura and the Murray River crossing on the Abbotsford Bridge to Curlwaa. At the 2011 census, the town had a population of 4681. Merbein is located 12 km from Mildura, 553 km from Melbourne and 392 km from Adelaide.

It is the home of Mildara Wines, which W B Chaffey founded in 1911. The Mildara Blass Winery still stands on the cliffs towering above the Murray River and is open to visitors for a tour and wine tasting. Until 2012 The CSIRO Plant Research Division had a facility at Merbein South focused on the grape and citrus growing industries.

A spectacular Murray River view from the cliffs, a great boat ramp and allocated camping areas along the river also make Merbein very popular. A diverse range of shops along with excellent recreational and sporting facilities, such as football, cricket and soccer ovals, a swimming pool, bowling greens, tennis courts, croquet greens, rodeo ground, golf club and formed walking tracks on the Merbein Common and along the river all contribute to making Merbein an ideal place to live or visit. The excellent schools and kindergarten, the new aged care facility and the many historical sites also ensure that Merbein is 'Top of the State'

Rail freight services to Melbourne operate from Merbein along the Mildura railway line from a terminal operated by Wakefield Transport.

Merbein is the most northern Victorian town and celebrated 100 years as an irrigation settlement in 2009.

Merbein was originally identified as White Cliffs when the town established because of its impressive river white cliffs. The post office opened on 16 August 1909. The town's name was intended to be "Merebin", which is the Aboriginal word for "white sandcliffs", but an error made when registering the name corrupted it to "Merbein". In 1912 the irrigation settlement's name was officially changed to Merbein, reputedly an aboriginal name of a local sand hill.