Berriwillock is on the Calder Highway. The town’s history ranges from the War Memorial to the development of Mills Store and the Golden Crown Hotel; it also offers two seasonal recreational activities: a swimming pool and a golf club. If swimming or playing golf is your main interest, plan your visit around the relevant season. Those interested in local history will find three different perspectives in these historic sites and stories—from remembrance to a community business and the history of a building.
War Memorial: several stages of remembrance
The Berriwillock War Memorial features a soldier figure made of pink granite, dating from the First World War. Four columns support the figure above a granite pedestal. The memorial was unveiled on 6 May 1920. Later, plaques were added to commemorate those who served in the Second World War, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The figure and the later plaques extend the memorial’s historical scope across several conflicts.
Mills Store and the Golden Crown Hotel
Mills Store has served the Berriwillock community since 1925. On 1 May of that year, Harold bought the store from Fred Higman on his 21st birthday. A modern extension was built and opened in 1983. Harold’s purchase and the later extension highlight different aspects: the personal story of the store on the one hand, and its architectural development on the other.
The Golden Crown Hotel was built in Berriwillock by Fairbanks and Wilson in 1896. Local limestone and bricks made and fired on the banks of Tyrrell Creek were used in its construction. The Golden Crown Hotel is Berriwillock’s local pub. It was built before Harold bought Mills Store in 1925; these dates represent different local stories: the construction of a building and a later change of ownership at a store. If you plan to visit the pub, check current visiting arrangements in advance.
Seasonal activities and Mallee golf
Berriwillock Swimming Pool is seasonal. Berriwillock Golf Club is also seasonal: a 9-hole sand-scrape course in the flat Mallee landscape. The natural course features Mallee trees as well as elevated and sloping sandy areas. Swimming and golf appeal to different recreational interests; for both, the season is an important factor when choosing your dates. Before you travel, check whether the relevant season matches your plans.
When to visit and where to stay
When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to match the reason for your visit with your travel dates: if swimming or golf is part of your plans, check the season first; if the memorial, store or hotel history is your priority, these historical themes can shape your visit. The focus varies: the memorial is about remembrance, the store about business and community life, and the hotel about its construction date, builders and materials. The sequence of dates—the hotel’s construction in 1896, the memorial’s unveiling in 1920, Harold’s purchase of Mills Store in 1925 and the store extension in 1983—provides a brief chronology of architectural history, remembrance and community business.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Lorne, Thomastown, Merricks North, Yellingbo, Doncaster, Meeniyan, Raywood, Seymour
For the broader travel guide: Victoria.
