Spotlight on Shepparton
If you've ever bitten into a juicy peach or pear, chances are it came from Australia's fruit capital, Shepparton, in the Goulburn Valley of north-central Victoria.
The Goulburn Valley is known as Australia’s food bowl and, given the region grows around 90 per cent of the nation’s pears, there are plans afoot to give Shepparton a $1.3 million ‘Big Pear’ that will soar three storeys high. But the region’s charms extend beyond fresh produce. The multicultural city of ‘Shepp’, just 191 kilometres and a little over two hours’ drive from Melbourne, has bounced back from the devastating floods of October 2022 and today has a thriving arts scene and festival calendar.
OGLE ART
The striking building you see as you drive into Shepparton is the Shepparton Art Museum (SAM). The five-level, ‘small and tall’ architect-designed building is a work of art in itself and houses one of Australia’s most important collections of historical and contemporary art with a focus on modern and Indigenous works.
If you time your visit for later this year, you will get a chance to see two blockbuster exhibitions. From 23 May to 20 September, SAM will host the touring exhibition Facing Modernity: Degas to Picasso. Then, from 5 September to 1 November, the museum will be the only place in Victoria where you can catch the Archibald Prize 2026, Australia’s most prestigious portraiture exhibition.
CITY SIGHTS
Stroll through Shepparton’s city streets and admire its vibrant murals and street art, particularly those depicting the region’s respected Yorta Yorta elders. Shepparton is productive dairy country, so it’s no surprise the city chose to scatter colourful life-sized fibreglass cows across its parks and streets. The cows are sometimes on the ‘mooove’ so check the website first to see where they have wandered off to.
If you are a fan of Andy Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s Soup Cans artwork dating from the 1960s, you’ll love Shepp’s version. A giant 10-metre-tall Campbell’s Soup Can which sits atop a 43-metre tower at the Arnott’s Group factory on Lemnos N Road on the outskirts of town.
WALK ON COUNTRY
Take a 7.2-kilometre return walk or cycle through the bushland area known as The Flats to learn about the first-ever mass strike of Indigenous Australians. The ‘walk off’ from Cummeragunja Reserve at Barmah occurred in 1939 when First Nations people became fed up with restrictive controls, poor rations and child removals. They left the mission and made their home in The Flats on the floodplain between Shepparton and Mooroopna, building homes with hessian bags and scrap metal. Most of those who lived on The Flats look back on it as “a hard but happy time”. Look out for the interpretive signs which provide more detail of the 170 people who escaped oppressive conditions to make their homes here.
Guided tours are also available through the Yorta Yorta Nation (03 5832 0222).
PADDLE UP
The Shepparton region offers serene waterways perfect for all kinds of water sports. Victoria Lake is popular for stand-up paddleboarding, fishing and boating, while the Goulburn River, downstream from Shepp in the Lower Goulburn National Park, is considered one of the best places to canoe in Victoria. The lifeblood of the region, the tree-lined river is a haven for flora and fauna, and there are varied sections of rapids and flat paddling areas. Take care though as this river can be hazardous with trees and other snags.
For those keen to get out on the water, Go Adventure Nagambie offers a variety of non-motorised watercraft including stand-up paddleboards, pedal boats, kayaks and canoes.
CARS AND COUTURE
It may seem an odd combination to house a fashion collection in the same complex as a motor museum but then Shepparton (population 32,000) is happy to do things differently. The Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) showcases Australia’s automotive history as well as modern motoring across the world. You will see vehicles here you won’t see elsewhere because most are on temporary loan from a generous network of collectors and enthusiasts.
Just steps away from the display of cars, motorbikes, trucks and buses you will find The Loel Thomson Collection, 200 years of Australian fashion represented by more than 10,000 items of clothing, jewellery and accessories. The collection is thanks to the passion of just one woman who diligently collected the latest fashions for four decades.
TWO-WHEELING FUN
For a ride around town taking in many of its key attractions, a shared pathway winds its way from the north of Shepparton, at Water’s Reserve, south along the Goulburn River to the centre of the city, then branches west to Mooroopna and south to Kialla Lakes, the Australian Botanic Gardens Shepparton and MOVE.
Further afield, the 19-kilometre Murchison Rail Trail connects the charming township of Murchison to the historic gold mining town of Rushworth. You will cross the beautifully refurbished historic rail bridge over the Stuart Murray Canal then skirt the northern edge of Doctor’s Swamp, a rare redgum wetland brimming with birdlife.
EAT
It’s no surprise that fruit is the star of the dining scene in the Goulburn Valley, with variations (or oddities) like chocolate-coated apples at the Chocolate Apple Factory. Explore farm gates, boutique wineries, enjoy a drop of local cider or small batch gin, or call in to the Shepparton Brewery and try their Careful Cobber Mid Strength Ale, Sheppxico Lager or Fruit Sorter Porter beer.
At the all-day cafe Elsewhere at SAM choose an outdoor table overlooking the river and enjoy the inspired menu designed by a trio of creative locals. Select one of their organic creations or ‘build your own bowl’ from a wide selection of poke ingredients. There is even a doggy treat menu.
If you want to stock up the pantry shelves, the SPC Factory offers tinned goods like fruit, tomatoes, baked beans and spaghetti at discount prices.
STAY
The BIG4 Park Lane Shepparton Holiday Park is in a peaceful spot just minutes from town, making it a perfect base from which to explore Shepparton and the wider Goulburn region.
The park is great for those travelling with children because it features a jumping pillow, pedal go-karts, tyre maze and an outdoor swimming pool. It’s also pet-friendly.
There are plenty of powered sites for caravans (including ensuites) as well as a range of comfortable cabins of varying sizes. If you visit in the cooler months (March to September) you can even enjoy a campfire; BYO fire pit or hire one from reception.
