Stay and explore the

surprising range of

tourist facilities in this

small country town

with the lively spirit

and big heart.

www.donald.org.au

Welcome to

Morgans Rd

Donald South Rd

Bunker Rd

Essential Services 0. ATMs 1. Post Office 2a. V-Line Bus Stop (Drop-off) 2b. V-Line Bus Stop (Pick-up) 3. RV Dump Point 4. Internet Access 5. 24hr petrol

Community Centres 6. Memorial Hall 7. Senior Citizens 8. Mens Shed 9. Cemetery 10. Donald Community Bank House - A Room of One’s Own Inc. - Red Gate Community Garden - M.O.P.S - Playgroup

Accommodation 12. Donald Caravan Park 13. Donald Motor Lodge 14. Donald Riverside Motel 15. The Bullock’s Head Apartments 16. The Bullock’s Head Tavern 17. The Donald Hotel

Historical 18. Donald District Archives 19. Old Police Camp 20. Courthouse Museum 21. Agricultural Museum

Parks, Gardens & Places of Interest 22. Donald Soldiers‘ Memorial Park 23. Lions’ Train Park 24. Apex Park 25. Bullock’s Head 26. Scilley’s Island 27. Goodwin Village 28. St. Mary’s Primary School 29. Donald Primary School 30. Donald High School

Rich

ardso

n River

Richardson River

Eliza

beth

St

Camp StSheep

Avon Place

Sproats

Lane

Avon

Willow

Crt McCulloch

Richardson

Byrne St

Tower Rd

Tow

er H

ill R

d

Race

cour

se R

d

McCulloch St

Mill St

Race

cour

se R

d

Jeffcott Rd

Walker St

Houston St

Waddell St

Meyer St

Blair St

Park St Lewis

Alfred St

Napier St

Gray St

Cave St

Corack St

Sout

h

Oakley

Allen St

Sedgman

Crt

Florence

Atho

l Crt

Ente

rpris

e Dr

Industry Dr

Moore St

Sunraysia Hwy

Woods St

Aitken Ave - Sunraysia Hwy

Hammill St

Cora

ck R

d - B

orun

g Hw

y

McC

rack

en A

ve

Hills Rd

Dona

ld -S

taw

ell R

d

St

St

St

St

Ray Crt

Crt

Campbell St

To Warracknabeal

To (Charlton) Swan Hill

To Mt. Jeffcott

Heights

Crt

3

8

5

413

23

14

28

2419

25

21

25

15

13

23

9

000

0

0

112020

2b

2b2b

67

10

12

17

18

16

18

LawnTennis

Golf Bowls Club

Donald Golf Course

Pool

RecreationReserve

Racecourse

Hockey

Angling Club

Archery

BowlsClub

2222P

Aerodrome

Ambulance

BBQ

Fire Station

Church

Fishing

Hospital

Long Vehicle Parking

Parks

Police Station

Telephone

Toilets

Walking Track

Mall

P

27

2626

Croquet

29

30

To Horsham - Stawell

To St Arnaud

Town tours are available for

groups, with a free guide.

Contact the Donald Tourism

Association 0428 971 310

DONALD for nature loversSee adjacent district map

Lake G il G ilA small lake off the beaten track, Lake Gil Gil is one of

the most reliable sources of water in the district, (though it did dry out completely during the long drought.) It is a popular fishing spot, and a great place for observing bird life and reptiles, including the long-necked tortoises which have made this their home.

Mt. Jeffcott ReserveDeclared a flora and fauna reserve in the 1970s, Mt.

Jeffcott is slowly re-establishing its rare flora, including orchids and a unique form of eucalypt. It is home to kangaroos, wallabies, wedge-tailed eagles, goannas, and of course snakes. Keep to the track as you climb the mount, to avoid disturbance. The view from the top is well worth the climb, and you can return to the car park for a barbecue and water.

Remnant ForestWhen the settlers arrived in the district they had to

clear their land or lose it under the terms of the Land Settlement Board. This little pocket of land was never cleared, although it was grazed in the past. Since grazing stopped, many trees have regenerated, giving a clear idea of the task the early settlers faced, without the benefit of heavy machinery. There is a stile over the fence, and you are welcome to walk through the area.

G ranite RocksThese boulders are the tail

end of the Mt. Jeffcott range, and are used frequently as a meeting place for locals. It is a great place for family picnics, where kids can clamber happily.

Lake BulokeWhen full, the lake has a circumference of more than

80 kilometres, though it is very shallow. Beneath the lake is a huge saline aquifer, reaching as far as the base of Mt. Jeffcott and appearing as springs in low-lying areas. After you leave the bitumen to drive to the lake you cross a series of lunettes of sand, built up over thousands of years. In these lunettes are many middens, evidence of aboriginal use of the lake for inter-tribal gatherings for trade and social reasons. In wet years, the lake is one of Victoria’s most popular duck-hunting areas.

Bullock’s Head(Located on the Richardson River opposite the Bullock’s Head Apartments)

This natural formation on an old gum tree is remarkably like a bullock’s head. Town wisdom has it that if the bullock takes a drink, the town is in trouble from flood waters. The bullock has taken more than a drink on at least two occasions. The 1909 floods, and the 2011 floods saw the bullock at risk of drowning, with only the top of his horn showing! During the long drought at the start of this century, the tree fell down. It has been protected with fibreglass and restored to its original position with a steel pole to strengthen it, but its appearance has been unaltered in this process.

Town Walking TracksA very popular feature of Donald for both visitors and

residents is the series of walking tracks based loosely on the path of the river. An early morning walk along any part of the track will reward you with glimpses of native flora and fauna, including the black wallabies which have made their home on the river flats. Much of the track is lined with solar-lit bollards, which make an evening stroll a very pleasant experience.

Apex Park & Scilley’s IslandThese two nature reserves on opposite sides of the

Sunraysia Highway are a haven for wildlife, including the migratory nankeen night heron and a family of black wallabies.

Scilley’s Island was for years the paddock where local cows were grazed, but grazing no longer happens and the island has been planted with many species of indigenous plants.

Apex Park, established by the Donald Apex Club in the 1970s, is a very popular travellers’ rest, looking over the river, surrounded by natural gum trees.

Aitke n Ave Su nraysia Hwy

DonaldAirport

Jeffcott Rd

McR

aken

Ave

C239

C238

B220

B220

Richardson River

Borung Hwy

C239

Borung Hwy

Lake Buloke

C239

C239

Jeffcott-Banyenong Rd

Pink

s Rd

Pink

s Rd

Boru

ng H

wy

Jeff

cott

Hal

l Rd

Lake Gil Gil

C239

District Map

Follow the red road

Cam

eron

’s M

ail R

d

(all-

wea

ther

road

)

Dry weather onlyDry weather only

Old Gil Gil Rd

Cameron’s Mail Rd

Cam

eron

’s M

ail R

d

Har

riss

Rd

Pit Rd

Mt JeffcottFlora Reserve

McLoughlans Rd

RemnantForest

Granite Rocks Reserve

Sheridans Lane

Swan

Hill

Rd

C239

Tors at Granite Rocks

Mt. Jeffcott Flora

Black Wallaby

Birdlife at Apex Park

The Bullock’s Head

DONALD for nature loversSee adjacent district map

Lake G il G ilA small lake off the beaten track, Lake Gil Gil is one of

the most reliable sources of water in the district, (though it did dry out completely during the long drought.) It is a popular fishing spot, and a great place for observing bird life and reptiles, including the long-necked tortoises which have made this their home.

Mt. Jeffcott ReserveDeclared a flora and fauna reserve in the 1970s, Mt.

Jeffcott is slowly re-establishing its rare flora, including orchids and a unique form of eucalypt. It is home to kangaroos, wallabies, wedge-tailed eagles, goannas, and of course snakes. Keep to the track as you climb the mount, to avoid disturbance. The view from the top is well worth the climb, and you can return to the car park for a barbecue and water.

Remnant ForestWhen the settlers arrived in the district they had to

clear their land or lose it under the terms of the Land Settlement Board. This little pocket of land was never cleared, although it was grazed in the past. Since grazing stopped, many trees have regenerated, giving a clear idea of the task the early settlers faced, without the benefit of heavy machinery. There is a stile over the fence, and you are welcome to walk through the area.

G ranite RocksThese boulders are the tail

end of the Mt. Jeffcott range, and are used frequently as a meeting place for locals. It is a great place for family picnics, where kids can clamber happily.

Lake BulokeWhen full, the lake has a circumference of more than

80 kilometres, though it is very shallow. Beneath the lake is a huge saline aquifer, reaching as far as the base of Mt. Jeffcott and appearing as springs in low-lying areas. After you leave the bitumen to drive to the lake you cross a series of lunettes of sand, built up over thousands of years. In these lunettes are many middens, evidence of aboriginal use of the lake for inter-tribal gatherings for trade and social reasons. In wet years, the lake is one of Victoria’s most popular duck-hunting areas.

DONALD for picnics with family

Lions Train Park – BBQ and Playground

Located on the corner of Walker and Hammill Streets, the playground area is protected by fences to allow children plenty of room to run around in safety. As well as having an excellent barbecue, the Park allows children to climb over the old J Class steam engine, and enjoy the playground equipment. An old goods van has been converted into toilets with disabled access.

Apex Park – BBQ, Playground and Swing Bridge

This park on the Sunraysia Highway is not only a mecca for nature lovers, it is a very popular spot for travellers to break their journey. Its toilets, barbecue and peaceful river setting, as well as an enclosed playground make it a wonderful spot for the whole family.

Memorial Park – BBQ and Playground

Donald’s first park, on the corner of Houston and Campbell Streets, recognises all conflicts involving our servicemen and women. This is a very picturesque area, and a much-used facility, with an excellent barbecue, playground equipment and shady trees.

The Friends of the Park Market is held here on the first Sunday of March, June, September and December.

DONALD for industry

The size of Donald’s industrial estate, along Racecourse Road, is a real eye-opener to visitors to our small town. From small one-man operations such as Chapman Motor Trimmers to large employers such as Donald Steel, Australian Eatwell and Harbergers Farm Supplies, the estate offers significant employment to the town.

Kooka’s Country Cookies is tucked behind the former meat works on the Sunraysia Highway south of Donald, and welcomes visitors at any time for direct sales to the public.

Peaco, located between the railway line and Mill St. is another major employer, and is a farmer-owned co-operative dealing with the export of pulses.

DONALD for the brain

The Donald Bridge Club meets every Tuesday night in the meeting room of the Senior Citizens’ Centre at 7.00. Visitors are always welcome.

Quiz Nights are held throughout the year as fundraisers for various groups. Keep your eyes open for local advertisements.

At The Red Gate Community Gardens, you are welcome to look in and see what’s happening, or join in with some planting and weeding! Donald Combined Probus meets on the first Friday of each month at 10 am. Their guest speakers are always interesting, and visitors are most welcome.

There is a range of sporting activities all year round. See www.donald.org.au for locations and times. During the warmer months our nearby lakes offer aquatic activities and picturesque views.

DONALD for a big heart

Donald is an extremely resourceful community, giving generously to others and to assets for the town, both financially and through volunteers.

The Look First Opportunity Shop, located on the west corner of the Mall, is an Aladdin’s Cave of recycled goods. Clothing is also packaged up and sent to the Ukraine to assist orphans there. The Op Shop is also supporting communities in West Timor.

Bingo is held every Thursday night at the Donald Golf Club (eyes down by 8.00 pm) and visitors are most welcome. Funds raised through the year are distributed to various volunteer organisations in the town.

Goodwin Village, on the banks of the Richardson River and along Camp St., was established thanks to a very generous bequest from Mrs. Amy Goodwin. The complex now includes many live-alone units, several houses, and a 32-bed hostel for aged care.

DONALD for retail therapy

Explore the CBD of Donald along Woods St and down McCulloch St. You’ll be impressed by the range, the competitive prices, and the helpful shop assistants who will be only too willing to serve you and track down that elusive item.

DONALD just for fun

There are many activities around Donald which welcome visitors.

The Men’s Shed is open 5 days a week. Just wander in and chat to the guys who will proudly show you their latest projects. A Room of One’s Own Inc., is mainly (but not exclusively) for the girls, who get together to create wonderful craft work, including quilting.

Lake Buloke

DONALD for history

The Historic Police CampWoods St. – opposite Scilley’s Island(For guided tour, phone: 5497 1552 or mob: 0419 281 742)

The first police station in the district was established at what was then known as Richardson Crossing. This little four-roomed house was built in 1869 at the request of the local squatters, to control the drunken behaviour of their shepherds. One room was the office and the other three rooms were for the policeman and his family. One policeman’s wife insisted on having a proper kitchen, so this was added at the rear as a detached building in case of fire.

The house has been restored by the Donald History Group and the Donald Lions Club, and the lockup has been rebuilt from two old lockups of the same vintage. Over time several other buildings have been relocated from farms of the area, including stables, a blacksmith’s shop, a dairy, a shepherd’s hut and a buggy shed. The latest addition is a large shed accommodating a bullock dray and other large farm vehicles, the walls of which are recycled buloke slabs from Rich Avon Station.

The Lions C lub Train Park & Railway MuseumHammill St – both sides of the railway line.

Donald was a very important railway centre on the Melbourne to Mildura line, and was the crew change point. As a result, more than 60 railway families lived in Donald, and greatly contributed to the town’s development.

The Court House MuseumWoods St., next to the Post Office.(For admission, phone: 5497 2287)

The former Court House, now operated by the Donald History Group, is home to many relics of former Donald businesses, and has a special area devoted to Donald’s much-cherished Chinese market gardener, known to the town as Georgie Ah Ling. The Museum regularly puts on special displays, and has been appointed as an official Aboriginal Keeping Place.

The Donald Archives58 Woods St, in the former Oakley Thompson building.(Look for the ‘Open’ sign, phone: 5497 2287)

The Archives is one of the best collections in Victoria of local written records, including indexed and bound copies of The Donald Express and The Donald Times (now The Buloke Times).

When steam locomotives were replaced, an old J-class engine was left at Donald on a disused side line. This became the start of the Train Park which was taken over by the Donald Lions Club as a local project, and is now a much-used area for many different functions.

The original concept of the train park has grown. The Lions Club is actively developing a rolling stock museum, seeking out abandoned and vandalised carriages. With the help of the Men’s Shed and other community members, these are restored to their former glory. The Taggerty Dining Car, a 1920s classic which ran regularly as part of the Vinelander between Melbourne and Mildura, is a shining example of this restoration.

If you have an enquiry about family who used to live in Donald, you’re sure to find an answer here. The Archives also houses a very impressive photographic record of the town and its people.

The Agricultural MuseumRecreation Reserve, Hammill St.(For admission, go to the Men’s Shed at the Recreation Reserve or view from Hammill St.)

This museum was established during the 1960s, when so many farmers were replacing their aging machinery and cleaning up their farms. It is now rather crowded, but it has been a project of love by many of the Men’s Shed volunteers to restore some of the machinery to full working order. If you were raised in the country, these machines will bring back many memories.

ArchitectureAs you drive around, take note of Donald’s many

interesting architectural features. In McCulloch St., look at the Turkish influence in the fascinating design of the ‘new’ Shire offices, built in 1911 with a design which had won a £10 competition. Opposite the Shire offices is the Wesley Church, which has a quite unusual reverse arch over its entrance.

Walk along Woods St. to see the different architectural styles, from the magnificence of the original National Bank to the quaint elevated skylights above the Donald Newsagency and the B.M Basset building.

Wesley Church

Shire Offices

Georgie Ah Ling

Agricultural Museum

Police Camp

Blacksmiths - Police Camp

Donald Savings Bank

Taggerty Dining Car