A grain store with a cathedral-like interior, a former railway water tower and a two-kilometre path along Lake Marma reveal three very different sides of Murtoa. You can explore the town through its architectural and industrial history, as well as by taking a walk around the lake. When planning your visit, consider whether you want to focus mainly on historic buildings and exhibitions or on spending time outdoors.
The Stick Shed: an extraordinary grain store
The Stick Shed is the only surviving emergency grain store built during the Second World War. It was included on the National Heritage List as Australia’s 101st National Heritage landmark. Inside, tall untreated timber poles, a central aisle and skylights shape the cathedral-like space. Its original purpose as a grain store and its heritage listing offer two different historical perspectives: wartime grain storage and the architecture of its expansive interior.
The Stick Shed is open to visitors seven days a week from 10 am to 3 pm. If you plan your visit around these hours, check them in advance, as opening details may change.
Railways, the museum and Murtoa’s history
The former railway water tower in the Murtoa Museum Precinct has four floors of exhibitions, historical artefacts and memorabilia. It was built in 1886 to supply water to steam locomotives. This brings together the tower’s original technical purpose and its role as an exhibition space.
The James Hill Taxidermy Collection is also displayed in the Old Water Tower. It includes more than 600 specimens of birds, reptiles and bird eggs. The collection’s size and variety of specimen groups give it a distinct focus within Murtoa’s museum themes.
Murtoa railway station presents the town’s railway and industrial history. Exhibits include railway relics and a model of the Murtoa railway precinct depicting the steam and diesel era of the 1960s. The station therefore complements the water tower’s history with other aspects of local railway and industrial life.
Buildings connected with education and community life are also part of Murtoa’s history: Concordia Cottage is the only surviving building of Concordia College, a Lutheran seminary established in Murtoa in 1890. Visitors can ring the bell in the Concordia Bell Tower in the Museum Precinct.
At Murtoa’s eastern end, historic factory buildings house the Richard Hornsby engines cared for by the Dunmunkle Sump Oilers. They are the only engines of their kind in the world still standing on their original foundations. Their preserved arrangement makes this part of industrial history particularly vivid, while the collections in the railway station and water tower focus on other objects and themes.
The Murtoa Heritage Trail and Lake Marma
The Murtoa Heritage Trail is an easy walking or driving route through town, with plenty of photo opportunities. It offers a different perspective on Murtoa from the individual exhibitions: you can explore the town on foot or by car and follow the route according to your interests.
A two-kilometre walking path runs along Lake Marma. The route has abundant wildlife, and fishing is also possible at the lake. Compared with the Heritage Trail, the route length is clearly stated and the focus on nature is especially strong. This makes it easy to choose a focus for the day: historic buildings and collections, the path by the lake, or both sides of Murtoa.
These different themes offer practical guidance for planning your time in Murtoa. The Stick Shed’s visiting hours can provide a fixed point in your schedule; other interests range from railway and industrial history to wildlife and fishing at Lake Marma. Before looking for accommodation, consider which of these highlights matter to you and how much time you would like to spend at each place.
Discover more destinations: Nagambie, Natimuk, Mansfield, Moe, Bright, Wallington, Heyfield, Keilor East
For the broader travel overview: Victoria.
