{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Picola | state = vic | image = Picola 2011 002.JPG | caption = Picola | image_alt = | use_lga_map = yes | relief = | coordinates = {{coord|36|00|0|S|145|08|0|E|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_label_position = | map_alt = | pop = 334 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2011}} | pop_footnotes = <ref name="abs">{{Census 2011 AUS | id = SSC21085| name = Picola (State Suburb) | accessdate = 5 December 2014 | quick = on}}</ref> | poprank = | density = | density_footnotes = | established = | established_footnotes = | abolished = | gazetted = | postcode = 3639 | elevation = | elevation_footnotes = | area = | area_footnotes = | timezone = | utc = | timezone-dst = | utc-dst = | dist1 = 246 | dir1 = N | location1 = Melbourne | dist2 = 56 | dir2 = N | location2 = Shepparton | dist3 = 50 | dir3 = E | location3 = Echuca | dist4 = 14 | dir4 = N | location4 = Nathalia | lga = Shire of Moira | region = | county = | stategov = Shepparton | fedgov = Nicholls | url = | maxtemp = | maxtemp_footnotes = | mintemp = | mintemp_footnotes = | rainfall = | rainfall_footnotes = | near-n = ''New South Wales'' | near-ne = ''New South Wales'' | near-e = Yeilima | near-se = Nathalia | near-s = Kotupna | near-sw = Lower Moira | near-w = Picola West | near-nw = Barmah | near = | footnotes = }} thumb|276x276px|Picola Hotel in 2007 '''Picola''' is a town in the Shire of Moira in northern Victoria, Australia. At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Picola had a population of 206.<ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL22066|name=Picola|access-date=5 February 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
== History == thumb|277x277px|Picola Hall in 2011 The name Picola is thought to derive from an Aboriginal word for either rushing water or an Aboriginal sub-group.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Picola |url=https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/picola |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=Victorian Places}}</ref> During the 1800s, the towns of Picola and Nathalia competed for farmland selection. Picola was close to the coach route from Echuca to Tocumwal and had a general store, a Union Church and a primary school which was established in 1879. However, Picola fell behind, likely due to its lack of a substantial watercourse compared to Nathalia's position on the Broken Creek.<ref name=":0" />
Picola Post Office opened on 24 August 1878 and closed in late 2010. The Australia Post outlet was then taken over by the Picola Hotel, until early 2011.<ref name="a">{{Cite web |last=Premier Postal History |title=Post Office List |url=https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country= |accessdate=2008-04-11 |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref>
On 15 December 1896, the railway line was extended from Nathalia to Picola.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 December 1896 |title=THE NATHALIA-PICOLA RAILWAY. |pages=6 |work=The Argus |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9166862 |access-date=February 5, 2023 |via=Trove}}</ref> It closed on 8 December 1986.<ref name="bau">{{cite web |title=VR Timeline. |url=http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html |accessdate=2016-04-05 |website=victorianrailways.net}}</ref> It was used to transport wheat, livestock and red gum from the Barmah National Park.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="???">{{cite web |title=Picola, Victoria |url=http://www.travelmate.com.au/Places/Places.asp?TownName=Picola_%5C_VIC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070804200837/http://travelmate.com.au/Places/Places.asp?TownName=Picola%5F%5C%5FVIC |archive-date=August 4, 2007 |accessdate= |website=Travelmate |publisher=}}</ref> The town was once known as 'the hook' because it was at the end of a railway line.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=10 January 2023 |title=Creative project lifts regional town |url=https://creative.vic.gov.au/news/2023/creative-project-lifts-regional-town |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=Creative Victoria}}</ref>
Federal Hall was established in 1900, later known as Picola Memorial Hall and Picola Public Hall. It has been burnt down and rebuilt twice: on 19 August 1936, leading the wooden building to be replaced by a brick structure, and on 12 April 1939.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Holland |first=Jeanette |url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4980035 |title=A history of Picola Hall : 110 years and still dancing : 1900 - 2010 |year=2010 |isbn=9780646540733 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 August 1936 |title=Picola Public Hall Burnt. |page=10 |work=The Age |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204907748 |access-date=5 February 2023 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=14 April 1939 |title=FIRE AT PICOLA |page=2 |work=The Riverine Herald |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116197004 |access-date=5 February 2023 |via=Trove}}</ref> Water was carted from Broken Creek until a town dam and water tank was constructed in 1950.<ref name=":0" /> A book about the history of the hall was written by Jeanette Holland in 2010.<ref>{{Cite newsletter |date=2011 |title=BOOKS RECEIVED |url=https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/rhsv-history-news-issue-295-nov-dec-2011.pdf |magazine=History News |publisher=Royal Historical Society of Victoria |issue=295 |page=4 |access-date=February 5, 2023}}</ref>
After the silo art project in Picola was completed in December 2020 as part of the Silo Art Trail, Picola has experienced a tourism boom, leading to owner Bruce Agnew refurbishing and reopening the Picola Hotel on 17 November 2021. Painted by Jimmy Dvate, it features flora and fauna from the Barmah National Park. There are plans to paint a second mural.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Gianni |date=23 November 2021 |title=Picola Hotel revamped and reopened |url=https://www.sheppnews.com.au/news/picola-hotel-revamped-and-reopened/ |url-access=limited |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=Shepparton News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Howe |first=Courtney |date=September 10, 2022 |title=Melburnians urged to take silo art road trip through tiny towns in northern Victoria |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-10/melbourne-visitors-urged-to-take-silo-art-road-trip/101423344 |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=ABC News}}</ref>
Picola has a mixture of irrigated, wheat and timber milling farms. At the {{CensusAU|2011}}, farming accounted for 37.2% of employment, with 9.9% dairy farming.<ref name=":0" />
==Arts and culture== Picola Public Hall hosts a monthly dance night featuring local bands and musicians, as well as themed dances during holidays.<ref name=":2" />
==Transportation== Picola is serviced by two return V/Line coach services on weekdays originating in Barmah: both connect in Shepparton, with train services to Melbourne Southern Cross station. The Picola Hotel serves as the ticket agency.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barmah |url=https://www.vline.com.au/getattachment/1a316883-a06a-44b4-aedf-647a10f63334/Barmah-Melbourne-(via-Shepparton-or-Heathcote) |accessdate=February 5, 2023 |website=V/Line}}</ref>
==Sport== The town is home to Picola United Football Club competing in the Picola & District Football League, and the Picola Bowls Club, competing in the Murray Bowls Association.
==References== {{Commons category}} {{reflist}}
{{Towns in Moira Shire}}
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Category:Towns in Victoria (state) Category:Shire of Moira