Dookie

Overview

Dookie is a progressive community, recognised for its unique and vibrant distinctive natural features, agricultural production, educational campus and an emerging tourism industry, all uniquely poised for filming opportunities.

Historic Mt Major and Mt Saddleback are prominent features of the landscape, as are the rich red volcanic soil, historic buildings and other natural features including a river, creeks and box iron bark forest.

The fertile agricultural land is perfect for the traditional farming pursuits of grain and cereals, dairy and more recently a number of vineyards, olive groves and a lavender farm.

History

In 1859 the Dookie district was surveyed, taking in much of the Emu Plains pastoral run. Local lore has it that Mrs Turnbull, wife of the station's proprietor, was so unhappy at the prospect of survey and possible farm subdivision that the surveyor suggested a place name derived from the Singhalese word duka, meaning sorrow. Mrs. Turnbull had lived in Ceylon. Duka was re-spelt Dookie.

During the early 1870s farm selections were taken up and a township site at the foot of Mount Major was surveyed. It was named Dookie South, later Cashel, and adjoins the agricultural college. In 1886 the Dookie Agricultural College was begun and two years later the railway was extended from Shepparton to about three kilometres north of Cashel. The town which formed around the station became Dookie. A large vineyard, one of over thirty in the district, was named Chateau Dookie. About 200 hectares of vines were planted and a large wine cellar and distillery were built. The property was converted to general farming in 1910 after vine diseases and a decline in the wine industry.

Places of interest

Accommodation

To book accommodation please contact the friendly staff at the Greater Shepparton Visitor Information Centre on:

Toll free: 1800 808 839
Telephone: 03 5831 4400
Facsimile : 03 5822 2311
Web: www.greatershepparton.com.au

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