Muckleford, Victoria
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Muckleford Victoria |
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 Muckleford
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| Coordinates | 37°01′S 144°09′E / 37.017°S 144.150°ECoordinates: 37°01′S 144°09′E / 37.017°S 144.150°E |
| Population | 1,107 (2006 census) |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Mount Alexander |
| State electorate(s) | Bendigo West |
| Federal Division(s) | Bendigo |
Muckleford is a small regional area in central Victoria, Australia. The area, also known as Wattle Flat, lies along the Muckleford Creek, a minor tributary of the Loddon River approximately 127 kilometres northwest of the Melbourne City Centre and within the jurisdiction of the Mount Alexander Shire council. The nearest sizeable town is Castlemaine, approximately 7km to the east. The original township is named after the English hamlet of the same name in Dorset.
The region is characterised by gently undulating terrain featuring several hilly farms and rural properties. For much of the year the land experiences relatively dry conditions, more suited to sheep farming than dairying. There is no commercial shopping center to serve the scattered farms, houses, and occasional rural commerce. In the 2006 census, it had a population of 1107. The land to the west of Muckleford features sparse forest of Box Ironbark that was mined for gold in some areas during the 19th century. This western forest contains many remnants of the local mining history including several open and covered holes and one poppet head used in shaft mining which belonged to the 'Red White and Blue' mine.
Muckleford is crossed by several roads. Rilens Road, constructed solely of gravel, historically carried a single raised telephone wire on poles to service local farms and houses. It runs west starting from the Pyrenees Highway (Highway 6180), and crosses the Muckleford Walmer Road which runs north to south. Striking the Muckleford Creek it crosses over and then leads into a thin eucalypt forest. The Muckleford Walmer Road has several farms, a retired red brick church, and Muckleford Cemetery.
The Pyrenees Highway connects Castlemaine to Newstead. The Maldon to Castlemaine highway also cuts through Muckleford's regions and runs chiefly west to east. Adjacent to the Castlemaine Golf Club is the Castlemaine Steiner School & Kindergarten, which was founded in 1987. Muckleford Creek rises below Walmer and eventually flows into the Loddon River.
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Wikipedia