Serpentine, Victoria

Serpentine is a town in north west Victoria, Australia. Located on the Loddon Valley Highway, the town is 201 kilometres north west of the state capital, Melbourne and 51 kilometres north west of the regional centre, Bendigo. Serpentine is in the Shire of Loddon local government area and, including the surrounding state suburb, had a population of 192 at the 2016 census.[1]

Serpentine
Victoria
Serpentine Hotel
Serpentine
Coordinates36°24′0″S 143°58′0″E
Population192 (2016 census)[1]
Established1863
Postcode(s)3517
Location
  • 200 km (124 mi) NW of Melbourne
  • 50 km (31 mi) NW of Bendigo
  • 138 km (86 mi) SE of Swan Hill
LGA(s)Shire of Loddon
State electorate(s)Bendigo East
Federal Division(s)Mallee

The town is named for Serpentine Creek, a tributary of the Loddon River. The creek in turn was named for explorer Thomas Mitchell's description of the river red gum trees lining the rivers and creeks of the area.

Selectors began to take up allotments in 1862 and the townsite was established as Serpentine Creek in 1863. A Post Office under that name had been open since 1848, the name being changed to Serpentine in 1917.[2]

It eventually became the seat of the then Shire of East Loddon. Today, Serpentine is a producer of grain and cattle and a popular place for anglers.

The Burke and Wills expedition is alleged to have passed the townsite in 1860 while attempting to reach the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The town has an Australian Rules football team Bears Lagoon Serpentine competing in the Loddon Valley Football League.

References
  1. "2016 Census QuickStats Serpentine". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  2. Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008



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