Towns in Australia

Exploring Australia, town by town

Boort VIC

Boort

Postcode: 3537

Boort is a town in Victoria, Australia, located next to Lake Boort, in the Loddon Shire. At the 2001 census, Boort had a population of 760. The town is known for its native birdlife. Boort is a local Aboriginal word meaning “Big Smoke”. Main sources of employment are retail, olive processing and tourism.

Agriculture is a major industry and employer in the Boort region. Produce includes: cereal crops, tomatoes, canola, olives and wool.

Boort is known as “The Northern Oasis”. Lake Boort is central to the town and is used for water sports including skiing, sailing, fishing and swimming.

The Boort football club, home of famed VFL Brownlow Medallist John Schultz, recently recruited ex-AFL player Lance Piccioni. Boort football colours are black and white.

Boort was the name given to the area’s first station by its owners, Henry Godfrey and Thomas Bear, in 1843. The word supposedly means ‘smoke’ in the dialect of the local Aborigines. It reputedly referred to the means of communication used by Aborigines from nearby Bald Hill. Bald Hill, because of its prominent position, was used by the local Aborigines to send smoke messages.

The district was opened to more extensive settlement in the 1870s. The town was originally located on the southern shore of Little Lake Boort, but was shifted to its current location when the railway arrived in 1883.

The reserve beside the lake contains Aboriginal relics, as well as kangaroos, emus, and some introduced donkeys. Facilities for tennis, bowls, golf, boating and camping are provided.

A 27,000-tonne wheat silo reflects the district’s economic focus, although barley, tomatoes, oats, lucerne, dairying, wool and lambs are also common.