| State | vic |
|---|---|
| Lga | Shire of Glenelg |
| Postcode | 3309 |
| Pop | 124 |
| Coordinates | 37°48′0″S 141°32′0″E |
| Stategov | Lowan |
| Fedgov | Wannon |
| Dist 1 | 366 |
| Dir 1 | W |
| Location 1 | Melbourne |
| Dist 2 | 47 |
| Dir 2 | W |
| Location 2 | Hamilton |
| Dist 3 | 10 |
| Dir 3 | S |
| Location 3 | Merino |
Digby is a town in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. The town is in the Shire of Glenelg, 366 kilometres (227 mi) west of the state capital, Melbourne, on the Stokes River, a tributary of the Glenelg. At the 2006 census, Digby and the surrounding area had a population of 369.[1] The town is believed to be named either after Digby, Lincolnshire, in England, or in honour of a legendary early rural Australian identity, "Digby" McCabe.[2]
The Henty Brothers established the first European settlement in the Digby area in 1837. In 1843, the Woolpack Inn was established near modern Digby; it burnt down in 1887. By 1847 the town consisted of the inn, a blacksmith and a series of huts. The town was officially surveyed in 1852.[2] On 1 June 1858, Digby Post Office opened.[3] In 1857, a second inn—the Digby Hotel—was established. It still exists today, although it was rebuilt after a fire in 1935.[2]
The Digby Mechanics Institute was built in 1868 and has continually operated since. The first sitting of the Supreme Court of Victoria outside Melbourne was in Digby in 1869.[2] By 1874 the town had a post office, two hotels, four shops and a school.[2]
Traditional ownership
The formally recognised traditional owners for the area in which Digby sits are the Gunditjmara People[4] who are represented by the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.[5]
References
- ^
- ^ "Digby, Victoria, Australia : Settlement & Timeline". Ballarat Genealogy. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Map of formally recognised traditional owners". Aboriginal Victoria. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^ "Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal". Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation. Retrieved 2 June 2020.