Beulah

Beulah, Victoria

Centre of the Barley Belt

The town of Beulah is at the heart of the unforgiving Mallee-Wimmera region of north-west Victoria, where the dry-land farmers fight flood drought and currently locusts.

Beulah claims that it's the closest town to the netting fence they built in the forlorn hope of containing the hordes of dogs. The erection of the fence commenced in 1885, and was constructed by the Victorian Government, as a measure to control wild dogs (dingoes) and foxes from the north and rabbits from the south. 

The picturesque Yarriambiack Creek that runs through Beulah is a true oasis, with walking tracks and picnic and camping areas stretching along its serene banks. A caravan park with public amenities is located beside the creek.

Beulah lies 25km south of Hopetoun, the home of Edward Lascelles, who is largely credited with the opening up of the Mallee country. Mildura is two hours north of Beulah on the Henty Highway. 

Phillips Street is the main shopping precinct of Beulah. It is situated west one block off the Henty Highway. Fresh groceries, fruit and vegetables and meat products are available in town. Beulah Medical Supplies can supply pharmacy products and the Victoria Hotel can provide a cold drink, great counter meals and accommodation.

Beulah has had a strong history of sporting success. During the winter, football and netball are the heart beat of the town. While summer sports include lawn bowls, cricket and tennis. The town has a great recreational precinct which includes football/cricket ground (with a turf wicket) swimming pool, netball and tennis courts, playground, camping facilities and bowls/croquet green.

With the introduction of the pipeline the creek area will become a showpiece of the community. Savings from the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline will allow a permament water supply to be put in the creek for the first time in many years.

Agriculture

Beulah has been known as the centre of the barley belt.

The Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project has replaced 17,000km of open earthen channels, which were built between 1890 and the 1940's, with a pipeline system throughout two to three million hectares of the Wimmera and Mallee. The pipeline system has been designed to take advantage of gravity to minimise the energy cost of pumping water wherever possible.

Lake Bellfield is 146 metres higher than Taylor's Lake, and when water is released into the pipeline at Lake Bellfield, the effect of gravity down the pipe, provides significant water pressure. While volumes are low, the pumps at the pump stations along the pipe trunk mains to towns, are not utilised, gravity maintains the flow.

The project was well ahead of its original timetable of ten years, and under budget and was completed by March 2010.