Youanmite, Victoria

Youanmite Victoria
The former town hall of Youanmite
Youanmite
Coordinates	36°09′24″S 145°41′30″E / 36.15667°S 145.69167°E / -36.15667; 145.69167Coordinates: 36°09′24″S 145°41′30″E / 36.15667°S 145.69167°E / -36.15667; 145.69167
Postcode(s)	3646
LGA(s)	Shire of Moira
State electorate(s)	Ovens Valley
Federal Division(s)	Murray
Localities around Youanmite: Naring Katamatite Telford Drumanure Youanmite Youarang Invergordon Yabba North Waggarandall

The town area of Youanmite is part of the Shire of Moira Local Government Area. It is located near the intersection of Youanmite and Katamatite roads, approximately 25km southwest of Yarrawonga and approximately 200km northeast of Melbourne, Australia. Youanmite was once a small town having its own schools, churches, and post office. Comprising medium to large farms the area is predominantly agricultural, focusing on grain production as well as sheep and cattle grazing.

The traditional owners of the land are the Yorta Yorta people who inhabited a large area south of the Murray river. It was not until 1824, when Hamilton Hume and William Hovell passed through the area on their expedition from New South Wales to Geelong in Victoria, that the land was assessed and opened for settlement. Squatters soon moved in and vast stations for wheat production and livestock grazing were quickly established. During the 1860s the Victorian Land Acts allowed for the subdivision of large holdings and a provision for Selectors to take up small allotments at minimal cost. This saw an increase in the population of the area and the need to establish more local facilities. Four schools had been established in the area prior to 1920 along with a hotel, sawmill and dairy.

The now disused Dookie to Katamatite railway, classed as a tramway for the first two years of its life, opened in 1882 carrying light freight, grain and passengers. A weighbridge and grain silo, which still exist, were built next to the rail line. Roberts General Store opened in 1894 and by the turn of the century churches had been created for the Methodist, Church of England and Roman Catholic congregations.