View source for Warragul

{{About|the town|the John Williamson 1989 album|Warragul (album)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox Australian place | type = town
| name     = Warragul
| state    = vic
| image    = Warragul.jpg
| caption  =
| lga      = Shire of Baw Baw
| use_lga_map = yes
| postcode = 3820
| est      = 1840s
|local_map=yes|zoom=10| pop      = 19856
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes =<ref name="ABSSAL">{{Census 2021 AUS | id = SAL22698| name = Warragul (Suburbs and Localities) | accessdate = 20 December 2022 | quick = on}}</ref>
|area=55| coordinates = {{coord|38|9|0|S|145|56|0|E|display=inline,title}}
|elevation = 143.0
|elevation_footnotes=<ref name=climate>{{cite web 
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_085093_All.shtml
|title = Warragul Climate Statistics (1888-2015)
|publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]
|access-date = September 15, 2024}}
</ref>
|maxtemp   = 19.2
|maxtemp_footnotes = <ref name=climate/>
|mintemp   = 8.4
|mintemp_footnotes = <ref name=climate/>
|rainfall  = 1020.2
|rainfall_footnotes = <ref name=climate/>
| county = [[County of Buln Buln|Buln Buln]]
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Narracan|Narracan]]
| fedgov   = [[Division of Monash|Monash]]
| dist1    = 102
| dir1     = East
| location1= Melbourne
| dist2    = 32
| dir2     = W
| location2= [[Moe, Victoria|Moe]]
| dist3    = 7
| dir3     = ESE
| location3= [[Drouin, Victoria|Drouin]]
| near-nw  = [[Drouin East, Victoria|Drouin East]]
| near-n   = [[Lillico, Victoria|Lillico]]
| near-ne  = [[Nilma North, Victoria|Nilma North]]
| near-w   = [[Drouin, Victoria|Drouin]]
| near-e   = [[Nilma, Victoria|Nilma]]
| near-sw  = [[Drouin South, Victoria|Drouin South]]
| near-s   = [[Lardner, Victoria|Lardner]]
| near-se  = [[Bull Swamp, Victoria|Bull Swamp]]
}}
'''Warragul''' ({{IPAc-en|'|w|ɒr|ə|g|ʊ|l}}) is a town in [[Victoria, Australia]], {{convert|102|km|mi|abbr=off}} south-east of [[Melbourne]]. Warragul lies between the [[Strzelecki Ranges]] to the south and the [[Mount Baw Baw]] Plateau of the [[Great Dividing Range]] to the north. As of the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the town had a population of 19,856 people.<ref name="ABSSAL"/> Warragul forms part of a larger urban area that includes nearby [[Drouin, Victoria|Drouin]] that had an estimated total population of 42,827 as of the {{CensusAU|2021}}.<ref name="ABSSUA">{{Census 2021 AUS | id = 2020| name = Warragul - Drouin | accessdate = 20 December 2022 | quick = on}}</ref>

Warragul is the main population and service centre of the [[West Gippsland]] region and the [[Shire of Baw Baw]]. The surrounding area is noted for [[dairy farming]] and other niche [[agriculture]] and has long been producing gourmet foods.

==Naming==

Warragul (or warrigal, worrigle, warragal) is a New South Wales [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous]] word from the [[Darug]] language meaning a wild, undomesticated [[dingo]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Loan words from Australian languages: Tales of myth and misunderstanding |url=https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/blog/article/615/ |website=Macquarie Dictionary Blog |date=15 August 2019 |access-date=26 July 2020 }}</ref> The town name is accepted to mean ''wild dog''<ref>{{cite news |title=How Shires were Named |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11166997?searchTerm=warragul |access-date=26 July 2020 |agency=The Argus |date=25 June 1938}}</ref> and various businesses in the town use the words 'Wild Dog' in their name.

However, the word was recorded as being used by settlers of Gippsland in the 1840s and 1850s to mean ''wild Aboriginal'' or a [[Gunaikurnai people|Gunai/Kurnai]] person.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Explorer |agency=The Australasian |date=5 September 1874 |access-date=26 July 2020 |page=6 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/139123137?searchTerm=warrigals}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Angus McMillan |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65365232?searchTerm=warrigals |access-date=26 July 2020 |agency=Gippsland Times |page=1 |date=24 May 1865}}</ref><ref name="gardner92">{{cite book |last1=Gardener |first1=P D |title=Names of the Latrobe Valley and West Gippsland |year=1992 |publisher=Ngarak Press |location=Ensay |isbn=1875254099 |page=8}}</ref> The traditional land of the Gunai/Kurnai people includes the town of Warragul, then intersects with [[Boonwurrung]] territory to the west of the town.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Howitt |first1=A W |title=The Native Tribes of South-east Australia |year=1904 |publisher=McMillan}}</ref> 

In 1851, British botanist Daniel Bunce recorded warragul as a [[Boonwurrung language]] word meaning ''wild'', ''ferocious'' and ''enemy''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bunce |first1=Daniel |title=Language of the Aborigines of the Colony of Victoria |year=1851 |publisher=Thomas Brown |location=Geelong |url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/digitised_collections/collectors_of_words/smyth/m0034041_a.pdf |access-date=26 July 2020 |archive-date=9 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409000111/https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/digitised_collections/collectors_of_words/smyth/m0034041_a.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bunce |first1=Daniel |title=Language of the Aborigines of the Colony of Victoria |year=1859 |publisher=Slater, Williams, and Hodgson |location=Melbourne |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-387673206/view }}</ref> P D Gardner suggests Bunce was correct in translation, but incorrect in origin, since the word comes from Darug.<ref name="gardner92" /> Hugh Copeland wrote in his 1934 history of Warragul that the place name was an Indigenous word meaning ''wild''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Copeland |first1=Hugh |title=The Path of Progress |year=1934 |publisher=Shire of Warragul |location=Warragul |isbn=0959346600}}</ref>

The word is also used for the naming of [[Warrigal Creek]] in South Gippsland to refer to the inhabitants of the area.

==History==
The town of Warragul began as a construction camp on McLeod's Track, now Brandy Creek Road, at the point where the surveyed railway line linked to the coach road.<ref name="histsoc82">{{cite book |title=Warragul: Progress Through a Century |year=1982 |publisher=Warragul and District Historical Society |isbn=095934800X}}</ref> John Lardner surveyed the townships along the line in 1877 and noted that the early arrivals in the area were squatters, who had erected their shops and dwellings on Crown land. The squatters' blocks were not offered for the first sale of town land on 2 March 1878, but were available to purchase on the second sale later that month.<ref name="histsoc82" />

In November 1873, The Victorian Parliament passed an Act approving the construction of a railway linking Oakleigh to Sale. The construction of the [[Gippsland railway line]] began simultaneously from both directions. The [[Warragul railway station]] opened on 1 March 1878 and the first train ran through in the same month.<ref name="histsoc82" /> In May 1890 Warragul railway station became a junction station when a branch line was opened to [[Rokeby, Victoria|Rokeby]] (later extended to [[Neerim South]] and [[Noojee]]).<ref name="vicher">{{cite book |title=Warragul Railway Station |publisher=Victorian Heritage Database Report |url=https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/1190/download-report |access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref>

The first Warragul post office opened on 16 March 1877 at the general store operated by James Biram, who became the first postmaster. A contract to build an official post office was made on 4 April 1887 and a foundation stone was laid on 4 June 1887. The building was completed and occupied the following year. Warragul's modern post office was opened on 3 April 1967, after the old post office closed on 18 September 1965 and was demolished in 1966.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ornate Gothic Style Post Office |url=https://www.pressreader.com/australia/warragul-drouin-gazette/20170404/281797103841140 |access-date=26 July 2020 |agency=The Warragul and Drouin Gazette |date=4 April 2017}}</ref>

Existing roads were renamed [[Princes Highway]] after the visit to Australia in 1920 of the then Prince of Wales (the future King [[Edward VIII]]).  The highway was officially opened on 10 August 1920 at a ceremony in Warragul.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Prince's Highway |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/68612706 |access-date=26 July 2020 |agency=[[West Gippsland Gazette]] |date=14 September 1920}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Prince's Highway |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/68612462 |access-date=26 July 2020 |agency=West Gippsland Gazette |date=3 August 1920}}</ref>

Warragul's [[Petersville (company)|Petersville]] Milk Products Factory in Queen Street supplied the famous [[Peters Ice Cream]] brand's factory in [[Mulgrave, Victoria|Mulgrave]] with all the dairy raw material (fresh cream and concentrated skim milk) for 35 years. The plant also manufactured skim milk powder under the famous Dutch Jug brand and butter under the Iceberg brand. It exported butter, butter oil and milk powders to Southeast Asia and the Middle East.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

Warragul was voted Premier Town in Victoria, 1970–1973.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

The Warragul Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1990.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lawrefrom/legal_services/final_report.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404125854/http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lawrefrom/legal_services/final_report.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=4 April 2012 | title=Review of Legal Services in Rural and Regional Victoria | publisher=Parliament of Victoria Law Reform Committee | date=May 2001 | access-date=12 April 2020 |pages=291–292}}</ref>

==Geography==
Warragul is located on hills that extend north from the [[Strzelecki Ranges]] near [[Ellinbank, Victoria|Ellinbank]], joining to the [[Baw Baw National Park|Baw Baws]] in the Neerim District. This range is historically referred to as the Warragul Hills. The range effectively separates the flatlands of the [[Koo-Wee-Rup swamp]] (starting near [[Longwarry]]) in the west and the Moe Swamp on the eastern side (starting near [[Darnum]]).

Warragul contains the Linear Park Arts Discovery Trail, a trail covering several adjacent parks in the town. It features painted bollards, mosaics and murals.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/files/0818929c-adef-4634-a83e-9fcf0100b5a8/Warragul_Linear_Park_Arts_Discovery_Trail.pdf |title=Warragul - Linear Park Arts Discovery Trail |access-date=19 April 2012 |archive-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326135926/http://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/files/0818929c-adef-4634-a83e-9fcf0100b5a8/Warragul_Linear_Park_Arts_Discovery_Trail.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The trail joins up with the [[Drouin to Warragul Trail|Drouin to Warragul Two Towns Trail]].

== Climate ==
Warragul has an [[oceanic climate#Marine west coast (Cfb)|oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen:]] Cfb), with warm summers and cool, rainy winters. Average maxima vary from {{convert|26.2|C}} in February to {{convert|12.9|C}} in July, while average minima fluctuate between {{convert|13.2|C}} in February and {{convert|3.8|C}} in July. [[Precipitation]] is moderately abundant: (averaging {{convert|1020.2|mm|in|abbr=on}} per annum), and is frequent (spread between 153.9 precipitation days). Consequently, the town is not sunny, experiencing 171.4 cloudy days and only 52.6 clear days annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{convert|42.3|C}} on 25 February 1968 to {{convert|-3.7|C}} on 4 July 1963.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=85093 |title = Warragul Climate (1888-2015) |website = FarmOnline Weather |access-date = September 15, 2024}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Warragul ({{coord|38.17|S|145.95|E|}}, 143 m AMSL) (1962-1979 normals & extremes, rainfall 1888-2015)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 41.7
|Feb record high C = 42.3
|Mar record high C = 38.1
|Apr record high C = 31.2
|May record high C = 26.1
|Jun record high C = 20.6
|Jul record high C = 22.2
|Aug record high C = 24.7
|Sep record high C = 26.7
|Oct record high C = 32.7
|Nov record high C = 36.7
|Dec record high C = 38.9
|Jan high C = 25.9
|Feb high C = 26.2
|Mar high C = 23.9
|Apr high C = 19.7
|May high C = 16.0
|Jun high C = 13.5
|Jul high C = 12.9
|Aug high C = 13.9
|Sep high C = 16.0
|Oct high C = 18.9
|Nov high C = 20.7
|Dec high C = 23.4
|year high C = 19.2
|Jan low C = 12.5
|Feb low C = 13.2
|Mar low C = 11.6
|Apr low C = 9.0
|May low C = 6.6
|Jun low C = 4.8
|Jul low C = 3.8
|Aug low C = 5.0
|Sep low C = 6.2
|Oct low C = 8.0
|Nov low C = 9.4
|Dec low C = 10.9
|Jan record low C = 3.9
|Feb record low C = 3.3
|Mar record low C = 1.8
|Apr record low C = -1.6
|May record low C = -0.9
|Jun record low C = -3.4
|Jul record low C = -3.7
|Aug record low C = -3.5
|Sep record low C = -1.6
|Oct record low C = -0.9
|Nov record low C = 1.2
|Dec record low C = 2.8
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 60.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 52.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 67.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 82.9
|May precipitation mm = 93.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 92.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 91.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 102.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 103.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 105.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 88.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 79.4
|year precipitation mm = 1020.2
|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 8.4
|Feb precipitation days = 7.2
|Mar precipitation days = 9.9
|Apr precipitation days = 12.3
|May precipitation days = 14.6
|Jun precipitation days = 15.4
|Jul precipitation days = 16.4
|Aug precipitation days = 16.8
|Sep precipitation days = 15.5
|Oct precipitation days = 14.5
|Nov precipitation days = 12.5
|Dec precipitation days = 10.4
|source 1 = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] (1962-1979 normals & extremes, rainfall 1888-2015)<ref name=climate/>
}}

==Events==
Warragul is the major township closest to Lardner, the home of the [[Gippsland]] Field Days. Three major events are held at Lardner Park each year—the Farm World agricultural show, Trucks in Action, and Harvest of Gippsland. The Farm World agricultural show is a major drawcard for the Warragul area. Every year in late March, Warragul plays host to these Field Days at Lardner Park. The Field Days are Australia's premier mixed farming Field Days and they include one of Australia's most diverse ranges of beef cattle, dairying and horticulture exhibits. {{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

Warragul is also home to the annual [[Warragul Show]], which is held on the first Friday of March each year. It is traditionally a farming and livestock show, but includes rides, stalls, games, fireworks and showbags. It is held at the Warragul showgrounds.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

==Education==
For a town of its size, Warragul has a large education industry with four primary schools, three secondary schools and two tertiary institutions.

===Primary schools===
Both Warragul Primary<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.warragulps.vic.edu.au/|title=Warragul Primary School|website=Warragul Primary School}}</ref> (opened in 1879) and Warragul North Primary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://warragulnorthps.vic.edu.au/|title=Warragul North Primary School :: Home|website=warragulnorthps.vic.edu.au}}</ref> (opened c.1954) are state primary schools, St. Joseph's Catholic Primary Warragul and St. Angela's of the Cross are Catholic schools, and [[St Paul's Anglican Grammar School|St. Paul's Anglican Grammar School]] is an Anglican Church of Australia (formerly Church of England) primary school.

Warragul & District Specialist School<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wgldss.vic.edu.au/|title=Warragul & District Specialist School – Celebrating Difference.}}</ref> is a junior school that focuses on educating children aged 5 to 10 years of age. The school uses a series of teaching tools such as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and AUSLAN.

===Secondary schools===
There are three secondary schools in Warragul, these include Warragul Regional College, [[Marist-Sion College]] and [[St Paul's Anglican Grammar School]]. Warragul Regional College was formed in 1994 from the merger of Warragul High School and Warragul Secondary College. Marist-Sion College was formed in 1975 as a result of the merger between the Marist Brothers Boys College and the Our Lady of Sion Girls College.<ref>Marist-Sion College (2007), [http://www.mscw.vic.edu.au/index.asp?d=777A564678740E010D0003 History of the College] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913124611/http://www.mscw.vic.edu.au/index.asp?d=777A564678740E010D0003 |date=13 September 2009 }}, viewed 4 May 2007.</ref> St. Paul's Anglican Grammar School was formed in 1982 with just nineteen year 7 students and has grown quite significantly in recent years.

===Tertiary institutions===
The [[Technical and Further Education|Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE]] has a campus located to the south of the CBD adjacent to the [[Warragul railway station|railway station]]. The Education Centre Gippsland has recently taken over the courses previously provided by the McMillan Institute of Land and Food Resources, a former campus of the [[University of Melbourne]].<ref>University of Melbourne (2007), [http://www.landfood.unimelb.edu.au/depts/mcmillc.html McMillan Campus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610135447/http://www.landfood.unimelb.edu.au/depts/mcmillc.html |date=10 June 2007 }}, viewed 21 May 2007.</ref><ref>Education Centre Gippsland (2007), [http://www.ecg.asn.au/mcmillan/mcmillanindex.htm McMillan Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829211249/http://www.ecg.asn.au/mcmillan/mcmillanindex.htm |date=29 August 2007 }}, viewed 21 May 2007.</ref> The courses offered encompass the areas of [[agriculture]], [[equine|equine management]], [[harness racing]], [[horticulture]] and [[Conservation biology|conservation and land management]]. A Monash University campus located in close proximity to the public hospital (West Gippsland Healthcare Group) provides clinical training and rural placements for medical students as part of Monash Rural Health.

==Transport==
[[Warragul railway station]] is a staffed [[V/Line]] station located to the south of the Warragul CBD.  The railway station is situated on the [[Gippsland railway line]], which services the towns and suburbs between [[Bairnsdale railway station|Bairnsdale]] and [[Southern Cross railway station|Southern Cross]].

Warragul has a modest bus network consisting of four routes within the town's boundaries.  Each route has a frequency of three services a day.  There are also bus services to neighbouring towns.  The Warragul bus network was recently upgraded with the [[Myki]] technology, fitted to all town buses.  This ticketing system has been implemented on the V/Line Train services during 2014–15.

==Sport==
[[Gippsland United FC]] was founded in 1963 and represents the town in [[Association Football|soccer]], playing in the [[Victorian State League Division 1|Victorian State League Division 1 South East]], making it the highest ranked soccer team in the entire Gippsland region.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://warragulsoccerclub.com.au| access-date=2023-11-12 | title=Warragul United Soccer Club | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003022/http://warragulsoccerclub.com.au/ | archive-date=2013-12-03}}</ref>

Despite taking 22 years to win their first [[Latrobe Valley Soccer League]] title, the club won the league seven times between 1985 and 2001 before departing for the Metropolitan league - them winning five promotions to rise from provincial obscurity to the brink of [[NPL Victoria]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Clubs/W/WarragulUnitedDH.html|title = Warragul United First Grade Divisional History}}</ref> The club was known as Warragul United until a 2022 merger with Gippsland FC and Latrobe Women's FC created Gippsland United FC.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gippslandunitedfc.com/wspHistoryLifeMembers.aspx|title = Membership & History}}</ref>

The Warragul Warriors<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://websites.mygameday.app/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=800|title=News Information - Warragul District Amateur Basketball Association|website=GameDay}}</ref> are the representative teams of the Warragul and District Amateur Basketball Association. They have a long history of success, most recently winning the Gippsland and State titles in the Country Basketball League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/comp_info.cgi?c=0-5082-0-238698-0&pool=1001&round=0&a=FIXTURE|title=Fixture for CBL Gippsland Men|website=SportsTG}}</ref>

The town has an [[Australian rules football]] team competing in the [[Gippsland Football League]], the [[Warragul Football Club]], and another, the Warragul Industrials, competing in the [[Ellinbank & District Football League]].<ref name="d">{{Citation|last=Full_Points Footy |title=Warragul_Industrials |url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Warragul_Ind_.htm |access-date=2008-07-25 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821204359/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/warragul_ind_.htm |archive-date=21 August 2008 }}</ref>

The Warragul & District Junior Football League caters for younger Australian rules footballers, with three teams based in Warragul: the Colts, Warranor (at [[Eastern Park, Warragul|Eastern Park]]) & the Blues (at [[Marist-Sion College]] ). The WDJFL has three competitions, consisting of the under-10s, under-12s and the Under-14½s.

The Warragul [[Little Athletics]] Centre meets on Saturdays throughout the summer season at the [[Geoff Watt]] Memorial Track, Burke Street, Warragul.  It caters for young athletes in age groups ranging from Under 6 through to Under 17. As well as competing locally, athletes are able to contest Regional and State Championships in Track & Field as well as Relay Championships and Multi-Events.

Warragul's Wild Dog Triathlon Club also meets on Saturdays throughout the summer season for a swim/cycle/run event.  The club caters for all ages and abilities with Junior, Under 14, Fun Tri, Super-Sprint, A Grade and B Grade categories. Weekly competition commences at the clubrooms opposite the indoor pool in Burke Street, Warragul.

Warragul [[Harness racing|Harness Racing]] Club conducts regular meetings at its racetrack in the town.<ref name = "harness">{{Citation
  | last = Australian Harness Racing  | title = Warragul | url = http://www.harness.org.au/warragul/warragul.cfm?fromstate=vic | access-date = 2009-05-11 }}</ref>

The Warragul Greyhound Racing Club holds regular [[Greyhound racing in Australia|greyhound racing]] meetings at the Logan Park Showgrounds. The track opened on 14 September 1956.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historyofgreyhoundracing.com/history-of-the-warragul-grc/|title=History of the Warragul GRC|publisher=History of Greyhound Racing|access-date=15 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="dogs">{{Citation|last=Greyhound Racing Victoria |title=Warragul |url=http://warragul.grv.org.au/index.html |access-date=2009-04-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329230710/http://warragul.grv.org.au/index.html |archive-date=29 March 2009 }}</ref>

Golfers play at the course of the Warragul Country Club on Sutton Street.<ref name = "golf">{{Citation  | author= Golf Select | title = Warragul | url = http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=332 | access-date = 2009-05-11 }}</ref>

Warragul possesses one of the best{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} outdoor [[velodrome]]s in the state and is serviced by the Warragul Cycling Club (WCC), which runs road races most Saturdays on the outskirts of the town.

The club hosts the Baw Baw Classic road race, held early each April.  This race features one of the hardest{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} climbs in the country and has been won by riders such as 2000 Cyclist of the year, Dave McKenzie, Tour de France Stage Winner, Simon Gerrans and 2009 Australian Road Champion, Peter McDonald.

==Local media==

===Newspapers===
Warragul has two weekly local newspapers, ''The Warragul and Drouin Gazette'' and a free publication, ''The West Gippsland Trader''. According to the Warragul Regional Newspapers website,<ref>Warragul Regional Newspapers (2007), [http://www.warragulgazette.com.au/?sel=Advertising&type=245&lay=3 Warragul and Drouin Gazette Circulation], viewed 4 May 2007.</ref> ''The Gazette'' and ''The Trader'' are distributed to locations from as far as [[Pakenham, Victoria|Pakenham]] to [[Moe, Victoria|Moe]] and from [[Poowong, Victoria|Poowong]] to [[Noojee, Victoria|Noojee]], covering over 40,000 readers.

Warragul also has a free twice-monthly print and online newspaper, the ''Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen''. The ''Warragul Citizen'' was established in 2011 as a quarterly print paper before becoming bi-monthly in 2012, covering Warragul, Drouin and Yarragon. The paper's online news offering started in late 2011 and covers all of Baw Baw. The paper moved to being online-only in 2013, printing the last physical edition of its original run in February.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warragulcitizen.com/local/announcement-print-edition-hiatus407|title=Announcement: Print edition hiatus - The Warragul Citizen|access-date=2013-04-03}}</ref> In 2014 the paper announced it would return to print with monthly editions from 11 July, changing the name to ''Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen'' in the process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warragulcitizen.com/blogs/twc/baw-baws-best-free-paper-returning-to-print|title=Baw Baw's best free paper returning to print - The Warragul Citizen|access-date=2014-06-12}}</ref>

The ''[[West Gippsland Gazette]]'' was published from 1898 to 1930 in Warragul; it has been digitised and is available on [[Trove]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-title136|title=West Gippsland Gazette (Warragul, Vic. : 1898 - 1930)|website=[[Trove]]|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref>

===Radio===
Warragul has two commercial radio stations, [[3GG|531 3GG]] and [[Triple M Gippsland|94.3 Triple M Gippsland]]. 3GG commenced in 1937, then known as 3UL. It changed its name to 3GG in 1989. Triple M Gippsland commenced broadcasting in 2002. Initially known as Sea FM and later Star FM and Hit FM.

Warragul also receives the Drouin-based West Gippsland Community Radio, 103.1 3BBR FM. 

Warragul has community radio station for print disability, [[3RPH Warragul|Vision Australia Radio Warragul]] broadcasts on 93.5FM.

The radio reception available in Warragul includes many of the Melbourne commercial stations (such as [[Triple M Melbourne|105.1 Triple M]], [[Smooth 91.5]], [[3AW|3AW 693]], [[Nova 100]]), ABC Broadcasters ([[ABC Radio Melbourne|774 ABC Melbourne]], [[Triple J|96.7 Triple J]] and [[ABC Gippsland|100.7 ABC Gippsland]]) and Gippsland commercial stations based further east in [[Traralgon]] ([[TRFM|99.5 TRFM]] and [[Gold1242 & Gold FM 98.3|Gold 1242]]).

==Military history==
During [[World War II]], Warragul was the location of [[List of RAAF inland aircraft fuel depots|RAAF No.2 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot (IAFD)]], completed in 1942 and closed on 14 June 1944. Usually consisting of four tanks, 31 fuel depots were built across Australia for the storage and supply of aircraft fuel for the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] and the [[United States Army Air Forces]] at a total cost of £900,000 ($1,800,000).<ref>{{Citation | author1 = Australia. Royal Australian Air Force. Historical Section | title = Logistics units | year = 1995 | publication-date = 1995 | publisher = AGPS Press | isbn = 978-0-644-42798-2}}</ref>

==Notable people==<!-- Pleasse respect alphabetical order -->
{{Main|Category:People from Warragul}}
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* [[Gary Ayres]] – Former coach of the [[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide Crows Football Club]] and former [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] premiership player
* [[Robert Baldry]] – Former [[Victoria cricket team]] [[cricket]] player
* [[Jason Bargwanna]] – [[Supercars Championship|V8 Supercar]] driver and [[2000 Bathurst 1000]] winner<ref>Jason Bargwanna (2009), [http://www.v8supercars.com.au/drivers/DriverDetails.asp?ind=&DID=281 Jason Bargwanna v8supercars.com.au], viewed 16 August 2009.</ref>
* [[William Kinsey Bolton]] {{small|[[Order of the British Empire|CBE]]}} {{small|[[Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration|VD]]}} (1860–1941) – Soldier
* [[Travis Demsey]] – Former drummer of [[The Living End]]
* [[Andrew Dent]] {{small|[[Member of the Order of Australia|AM]]}} – Doctor and humanitarian worker
* [[Dick Ellis]] – MI6 intelligence officer and author
* [[Smacka Fitzgibbon]] – Jazz musician
* [[Graeme Gahan]] – Former Richmond footballer
* [[Chris Godsil]] – Professor of Mathematics at the [[University of Waterloo]], [[Ontario]], Canada<ref>{{cite web| url=http://quoll.uwaterloo.ca/me/life.html | access-date=2023-11-12 | title= Chris Godsil - Abount Me| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516042531/http://quoll.uwaterloo.ca/me/life.html | archive-date=2010-05-16}}</ref>
* [[Edward Greeves|Edward 'Carjie' Greeves]] – First [[Brownlow Medal]]list and [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] footballer
* [[John Guy (historian)|John Guy]] – Leading [[United Kingdom|British]] [[historian]] and [[biography|biographer]]
* [[Trent Hotton]] – Former [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] and [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]] AFL footballer
* [[Craig Hutchison (broadcaster)|Craig Hutchison]] – TV personality on the [[Nine Network]] and [[Triple M]] radio personality
* [[Margaret Jackson (executive)|Margaret Jackson]] {{small|[[Companion of the Order of Australia |AC]]}} (1953–present) – Australian corporate executive (former Chairman of [[Qantas|QANTAS]])
* [[Walter Langcake]] – woodcarver and sculptor
* [[Harry McKay]] – AFL footballer 
* [[Ben McKay (footballer)|Ben McKay]] – AFL footballer 
* [[Robert Murphy (footballer)|Robert Murphy]] – Former player & captain of the [[Western Bulldogs]] in the [[Australian Football League|AFL]]
* [[Alan Noonan]] – Former [[Australian Football League|VFL]] footballer for the [[Essendon Football Club]] and the [[Richmond Football Club]]<ref>Baw Baw Shire Council (2007), [http://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=531&h=0 Baw Baw Shire Sporting Walk of Fame Inductees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928081727/http://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=531&h=0 |date=28 September 2007 }}, viewed 26 May 2007.</ref>
* [[Andrew T. O'Connor]] – [[Australia]]n [[novelist]]
* [[Luke O'Dea (footballer)|Luke O'Dea]] – Soccer player with [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]] in the [[Hyundai A-League]]
* [[Mark Ridgway]] – Former [[Tasmanian Tigers]] [[cricket]] player
* [[Lionel Rose]] {{small|[[Member of the Order of the British Empire|MBE]]}} (1948–2011) – Former bantamweight world boxing champion (honoured by life-size bronze statue in Queen Street Park) 
* [[Barry Round]] – Footscray ([[Western Bulldogs]]) and [[Sydney Swans]] [[Brownlow Medal]]list
* [[Caleb Serong]] – AFL footballer
* [[Jayden Warn]] – Wheelchair rugby gold medallist at the [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Rio Paralympics]]
* [[Geoff Watt]] – Former long-distance runner and namesake of the local athletics track
* [[Kathy Watt]] – Australia's first [[cycle sport|cycling]] gold medallist at the [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics]] in the [[Cycling at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's road race|women's road race]].  She also won a silver medal in the [[Cycling at the 1992 Summer Olympics#Women.E2.80.99s events|3000m individual pursuit]] event at these Olympic games<ref>Australian Olympic Committee (2007) [http://www.olympics.com.au/athletes.cfm?AthleteID=6775 Kathy Watt], viewed 4 May 2007.</ref>
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==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
*[http://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/ Baw Baw Shire]
*[http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_085093.shtml Warragul Climate Statistics]

{{Towns in Baw Baw Shire}}
{{Towns in West Gippsland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Shire of Baw Baw]]