VICPort & river
Shepparton
Before the fruit tins, there was a punt.
1853McGuire’s Punt settlement established
WHAT STARTED IT
Goldfield traffic needed to cross the Goulburn River. A punt operated by Pat Macguire drew a small settlement, later named after pastoralist Sherbourne Sheppard. The river crossing, rather than fruit canning, was the town’s initial reason for being.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
Farm selection and the 1880 railway expanded trade. Irrigation then encouraged orchards and dairying. The Shepparton Preserving Company began in 1918, linking the town’s growth to processing the surrounding harvest.
TURNING POINTS
1841The Tallygaroopna run is taken up as squatters occupy the lower Goulburn.
1853McGuire establishes the punt crossing and its first hut.
1855The first township survey uses both “Shepparton” and “McGuire’s Punt”.
1860Shepparton is proclaimed a township on 28 September.
1918The Shepparton Preserving Company begins.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A Goulburn Valley service and manufacturing centre, closely associated with orchards, dairying and food processing.