Birchip

History

A pastoral run was established in the region named Wirmburchep and when surveyed a parish was gazetted as Wirmbirchip.

Closer settlement began in the area by then known as around 1882 and a Post Office under that name opened on 2 July 1883 (Birchip from 1 January 1890).{{Citation

Birchip Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1983, though the court had not sat in Birchip since 1973.

Birchip today

The farms in the area typically grow wheat, barley, canola, and other cereals. Some people have pig sheds, though most livestock in the district are sheep. There is a hospital which shares a lodge for elderly care.

Five main roads enter the town. It is located approximately 312 km northwest of Victoria's capital city Melbourne. A road passes through Birchip that divides the Wimmera region of Victoria (to the south) from the Mallee region of Victoria (to the north). To travel to Birchip from Melbourne there are two preferred routes, one via the outskirts of Ballarat via the Sunraysia Highway and one around Bendigo via the Calder Highway. Each route's travel times are similar and the Ballarat route is more mountainous in some areas. There is an aerodrome for light aircraft.

With its neighbouring township Watchem Birchip has a football team (Birchip-Watchem) competing in the North Central Football League.

Golfers play at the Birchip Golf Club on Watson Street.

Most sport in Birchip is played at the Birchip Community Leisure Centre (BCLC). The BCLC is home to Australian rules football, netball, hockey, cricket, tennis, golf and squash.

Birchip was home to medical doctor and classical guitarist, Chath Silva, who was quoted to have attended Birchip P-12 school at some point in his early life.

Birchip is also home to the iconic Sharp's Bakery , a family-owned business known especially for its multi-award-winning vanilla slice at the prestigious Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph, an annual national competition which originated in Oyen in 1998, and now run in Merbein on the Murray River . The Sharp's Bakery has won this competition consistently seven times since 2025 (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2022, 2024, 2025), which is a testament to their patisserie craft in creating of this Australian pastry .

References

References

1. {{Census 2021 AUS. link
2. "Birchip P-12 School".
3. "Birchip-Watchem Bulls".
4. Butler and Brooke's ''National Directory of Victoria for 1866-67'', section: ''Squatting Directory. Victoria. 1866.''
5. (1986). "Special Report No. 4 - Court Closures in Victoria". Auditor-General of Victoria.
6. "East Wimmera Health Services".
7. Golf Select. "Birchip".
8. (2025-07-07). "An Enchanting Performance".
9. (2025-06-20). "Chathura Silva’s medicine and music: Birchip fosters eminent career I Australian Rural & Regional News".
10. Victoria, c=au; o=Visit. "Sharp's Bakery, Food and Wine, Grampians, Victoria, Australia".
11. "The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph Merbein".
12. (2025-08-17). "Country bakery wins title of Australia’s best vanilla slice".