View source for Waubra

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type     = town
| name     = Waubra
| state    = vic
| image    = WaubraTheSpringsHotel.JPG
| caption  = The Springs Hotel at Waubra.
| lga      = City of Ballarat
| lga2     = Pyrenees Shire
| lga3     = Hepburn Shire
| postcode = 3352
| est      =
| pop      = 308
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes=<ref name="ABS"/>
| elevation=
| use_lga_map = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|37|22|0|S|143|39|0|E|display=inline,title}}
| maxtemp  =
| mintemp  =
| rainfall =
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Ripon|Ripon]]
| fedgov   = [[Division of Wannon|Wannon]]
| dist1    = 146
| dir1     = WNW
| location1= Melbourne
| dist2    = 33
| dir2     = NW
| location2= Ballarat
| dist3    = 15
| dir3     = SE
| location3= [[Lexton, Victoria|Lexton]]
}}
'''Waubra''' (formerly known as '''The Springs''') is a town in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]. The town is on the [[Sunraysia Highway]], {{convert|33|km|mi|0}} north west of [[Ballarat]] and split between the [[Pyrenees Shire]], [[Hepburn Shire]] and [[City of Ballarat]] local government areas. At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Waubra and the surrounding area had a population of 308.<ref name="ABS">{{Census 2021 AUS |id=SAL22729 |name=Waubra (State Suburb)|access-date=2022-04-11|quick=on}}</ref>
The town is known for the [[Waubra Wind Farm]], one of the largest windfarms in Australia. It was the biggest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere on completion.<ref>{{cite news|last1=CAIRNS|first1=NICOLE|title=Waubra Wind Farm: community divided|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/133881/waubra-wind-farm-community-divided/|work=The Courier|date=19 July 2012|language=en}}</ref>
The town was named after the local [[Wathaurong]] tribe "Waubra" that populated the area prior to European settlement.<ref name="Centenary">pg. 9. The Argus.  Friday 25 November 1938</ref>
== History ==
The original inhabitants were the "Waubra" a [[Wathaurong]] indigenous Australian tribe.<ref name="Centenary" />
[[Thomas Mitchell (explorer)|Thomas Mitchell]] was the first European to visit the area, and during his 1839 journey, planted a flag on nearby Mount Mitchell.<ref name="Centenary" />
The first settler was Mr John Warne who established a pastoral run in 1857.<ref name="Centenary" />  The settlement was originally known as "The Springs". The Post Office opened on 20 April 1860.<ref name = "a">{{Citation | last = Phoenix Auctions History  | title = Post Office List | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=*Waubra* | access-date = 26 February 2021}}</ref>
The railway came in October 1888 with the opening of a [[Victorian Railways]] {{convert|5|ft|3|in|mm|abbr=on}} gauge branchline.<ref>'''''The Waubra Branch Line''''' Turton, Keith W. [[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]], December, 1969 pp287-293</ref> It was renamed Waubra in 1889.<ref name = "a" /> In 1931, passenger services were withdrawn and the line continued as a "goods only" line through to its closure in January 1968.
The centenary of the town was celebrated in 1939 marking 100 years since Major Mitchell's sighting of the area.<ref name="Centenary" />
== Culture ==
[[File:WaubraRecreationReserve.JPG|thumb|Recreation reserve (wind farm is visible in background)]]
The Waubra Kangaroos football team competes in the [[Central Highlands Football League]].
Since 2010, the town has celebrated an annual Community Festival. It began as the Waubra Windfarm Festival and was sponsored by [[Acciona Energy]], the name changed to the Waubra Windfarm Community Festival in 2011 and in 2012 became the Waubra Community Festival & Farmers Market.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schurrman|first1=Evan|title=Winds of Change at Waubra|work=Ballarat Courier}} - cited in {{cite web|title=The Courier: Winds of Change at Waubra|url=https://yes2renewables.org/2012/09/17/the-courier-winds-of-change-at-waubra/|website=yes2renewables.org|access-date=28 January 2018|date=17 September 2012}}</ref> It has attracted large crowds and is held at the recreation reserve.
== Economy ==
Waubra's economy is based on agriculture and associated services, more than 38% of residents are farmers.<ref>2006 Census</ref> The farming is mostly livestock although a number of wineries operate in the district.  Due to the proximity to Ballarat and struggling local industry, many people commute to the city by motor vehicle for work - the {{CensusAU|2016}} found that 67.5% of employed people travelled by car (either as driver or as passenger).<ref name="ABS"/>
Facilities in the town include a general store and a primary school.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Waubra, Victoria}}
*[http://www.travelmate.com.au/Places/Places.asp?TownName=Waubra_%5C_VIC Travel guide]
*[http://www.waubra.org.au Waubra community website]
{{Towns in Pyrenees Shire}}
{{Localities of City of Ballarat}}
{{Towns in Hepburn Shire}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Towns in Victoria (state)]]