More about the district of Budgeree
Budgeree is a farming district at the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges of southeastern Australia, and is around 150km south east of Melbourne. The name Budgeree was a term used by the Gunai / Kurnai people meaning ‘good’. We think they are right - Budgeree is a good place to live.
Use the Google map below to explore for yourself the district of Budgeree and surrounding areas.
Use the Google map below to explore for yourself the district of Budgeree and surrounding areas.
Around one hundred years ago a local bank manager coined the term ‘The Prosper Valley’, and this area forms the heart of the district of Budgeree – a gently undulating area surrounded by larger hills. In the days before super phosphate, farmers struggled to maintain viable dairy herds (suffering from conditions such as Rickets) on the marginal plains of the Latrobe Valley to the north. Farmers in the Prosper Valley were much better off - the fertile soil of their home grew lush grass that kept herds fat and happy.
Budgeree is much like other rural areas of the southeast coast of Australia, in that the early settlers to the area converted the natural forest that blanketed the land to open pastures from the mid to late 19th century. The area was and still is very much suited to dairy cattle, with average rainfalls in excess of 1000mm. But the slump in dairy prices of the 80’s pushed many farmers to beef cattle. Now the area is settled by a mix of traditional farmers running larger herds of beef cattle, hobby farmers running smaller herds of stores (cattle that are bought, fattened over the year, and then sold hopefully for a profit), and people looking for a quiet life amongst nature.
There is a Bundgeree township, although it lays sleeping most of the year. There you’ll find the Budgeree school (closed around 1986) and the Budgeree Hall (available for hire). The later is the home of the Budgeree Christmas Tree, the social event of the year. Held on a Friday night sometime in December, the Budgeree Christmas Tree hosts live music, dancing, party games, and a visit by Santa Claus, followed by supper, coffee and more dancing and games. This event is so special to my family and I. For starters, it’s the only time of the year where many in the district come together and share stories. In addition, our children are always so excited by it. There is the buildup, then catching up with cousins and friends, and I have never seen them so excited to see Santa Claus. But most importantly, Leanne and her family grew up with the Budgeree Christmas Tree. Its part of local folklaw, and I am very lucky to be a part of this.
Budgeree is much like other rural areas of the southeast coast of Australia, in that the early settlers to the area converted the natural forest that blanketed the land to open pastures from the mid to late 19th century. The area was and still is very much suited to dairy cattle, with average rainfalls in excess of 1000mm. But the slump in dairy prices of the 80’s pushed many farmers to beef cattle. Now the area is settled by a mix of traditional farmers running larger herds of beef cattle, hobby farmers running smaller herds of stores (cattle that are bought, fattened over the year, and then sold hopefully for a profit), and people looking for a quiet life amongst nature.
There is a Bundgeree township, although it lays sleeping most of the year. There you’ll find the Budgeree school (closed around 1986) and the Budgeree Hall (available for hire). The later is the home of the Budgeree Christmas Tree, the social event of the year. Held on a Friday night sometime in December, the Budgeree Christmas Tree hosts live music, dancing, party games, and a visit by Santa Claus, followed by supper, coffee and more dancing and games. This event is so special to my family and I. For starters, it’s the only time of the year where many in the district come together and share stories. In addition, our children are always so excited by it. There is the buildup, then catching up with cousins and friends, and I have never seen them so excited to see Santa Claus. But most importantly, Leanne and her family grew up with the Budgeree Christmas Tree. Its part of local folklaw, and I am very lucky to be a part of this.
