{{distinguish|Victoria Thornton}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Thornton | state = vic | image = | caption = | coordinates = {{coord|37|15|S|145|48|E|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_label_position = right | use_lga_map = yes | lga = Shire of Murrindindi | postcode = 3712 | est = | pop = 311 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}} | pop_footnotes = <ref name="ABS2021">{{cite web |title=2021 Census QuickStats Thornton|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/SAL22510 |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics |accessdate=16 July 2024}}</ref> | elevation= 200 | maxtemp = | mintemp = | rainfall = | stategov = Eildon | fedgov = Indi | dist1 = 131 | dir1 = | location1= Melbourne | dist2 = 17 | dir2 = | location2= Alexandra | dist3 = 13 | dir3 = | location3= Eildon }} '''Thornton''' is a town in nestling on the banks of the Goulburn River in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is in the Shire of Murrindindi local government area. The town is approximately halfway between Alexandra and Eildon. The town had a population of 311 at the 2021 census.<ref name="ABS2021">{{cite web |title=2021 Census QuickStats Thornton|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/SAL22510 |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics |accessdate=16 July 2024}}</ref>

==History==

The locality was named after a nearby pastoral run called ''Thornton Run'' that was established in 1840.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/thornton|title=Thornton &#124; Victorian Places|website=www.victorianplaces.com.au}}</ref>

Thornton Post Office opened on 22 August 1914, which has been operated from multiple locations such as the caravan park, general store and the pub.<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=*Thornton* | access-date = 18 January 2021 }}</ref>

Local publicans have typically focused on the tourism economy and oppose local competing business.

==Services==

The township has a Hotel and a caravan park in the centre of town. Petrol is available for purchase at the service station.

==Sport==

The Thornton-Eildon District Football & Netball Club play their home games on the Thornton recreation reserve. The club competes in the Outer East Football Netball League.

==Tourism==

To the south of Thornton is the Cathedral Ranges National Park where the visitor can participate in bushwalking or go rockclimbing.

{{wide image|Cathedral Range Northern Section, Victoria, Aus - Mar 2012.jpg|800px|The northern section of the Cathedral Range as viewed from the west on Maroondah Highway.}}

==References== {{commons category}} {{Reflist}}

{{Towns in Murrindindi Shire}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Victoria (state) Category:Shire of Murrindindi

{{Hume-geo-stub}}