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Patchewollock

VIC 3491 • Victoria

149
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
1143.69 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralAgriculturalHistoricRemote
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About Patchewollock

Patchewollock is a small town in north-west Victoria's Mallee region, situated approximately 429 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, 149 kilometres south of Mildura and 47 kilometres south of Ouyen, in the Shire of Yarriambiack. Its name derives from two Aboriginal words — putje (plenty) and wallah (porcupine grass) — reflecting the Mitchell grass and mallee scrub that once covered the surrounding plains. The town was first established in the aftermath of World War One, when soldier settlement blocks were carved out of the Mallee's scrubby farmland in a significant post-war land distribution program. The 2021 census recorded a population of 149, a small but resilient farming community on the edge of the Big Desert Wilderness Park.

Patchewollock is a quintessential Mallee farming town, sustained by broadacre wheat, barley and canola cropping on the productive soils of north-western Victoria's cereal belt. The Big Desert Wilderness Park lies immediately to the west, one of Victoria's largest wilderness areas protecting native mallee scrub, wildlife and the remote dunes of the Little Desert extension. Ouyen (47 km north) provides the nearest service town with a supermarket, school and hospital services, while Mildura (149 km north) is the regional centre with a full range of urban services, hospital and flights to Melbourne. Patchewollock hosts a popular annual Football Netball Club season that anchors the community's social calendar.

Patchewollock falls under postcode 3491 and is governed by the Yarriambiack Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Mallee, while state elections fall under the Mildura (Northern Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3491
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Yarriambiack
Federal Electorate
Mallee
State Electorate
Mildura (Northern Victoria)
Type
Locality
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-35.43°, 142.22°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
1143.69 km²
Population Density
0 /km²
Elevation
0m

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🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Ouyen
47 km
V/Line Mildura coach service stop; no passenger rail at Ouyen
Mildura
149 km
V/Line coach to Melbourne (~7 hrs); Overland train service (infrequent)

Bus Services

  • V/Line coach — Ouyen / Mildura / Melbourne ~45 min to Ouyen, ~2 hrs to Mildura

Commute to Melbourne

Distance
429 km
By Train
~8 hrs (drive ~149 km to Mildura, then V/Line coach or train to Melbourne)
By Bus
~7 hrs (V/Line coach via Ouyen and Mildura to Melbourne)
By Car (Peak)
~4 hr 30 min to Melbourne via Calder Highway
By Car (Off-Peak)
~4 hr 15 min

🛣️ Ouyen (47 km north) is the nearest local service town. Mildura (149 km north) is the regional centre with an airport, hospital and V/Line connections. Daily Melbourne commuting is impractical; most residents are locally employed in agriculture.

Walkability Car Dependent

Patchewollock township has a pub, hall and basic facilities within walking distance for village residents, but all significant shopping and services require driving to Ouyen or Mildura.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
149
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest rates for the Yarriambiack Local Government Area, which contains Patchewollock. Rates are per 100,000 residents for the year ending September 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.

Break & enter (dwelling)
270.5 / 100k
2yr Down 21.4% 10yr Down 24.0%
Motor vehicle theft
79.6 / 100k
2yr Up 27.1% 10yr Up 34.1%
Non-FV assault
238.7 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 40.4%
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
222.8 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 25.2%
View all offence subgroups for Yarriambiack →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

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Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Patchewollock known for? +

Patchewollock is known for the Big Mallee Bull, a roadside attraction symbolising the town's connection to the bull mallee scrub habitat. The town serves as a small service stop for the surrounding grain farming district of far north-west Victoria.

How far is Patchewollock from Melbourne? +

Patchewollock is approximately 429 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, around a 4.5-5 hour drive via the Calder Highway.

Does Patchewollock have public transport? +

There is no public transport in Patchewollock. The nearest V/Line service is at Ouyen, approximately 70 kilometres south. A car is essential.

What is the population of Patchewollock? +

According to the 2021 Census, Patchewollock has a population of approximately 149 residents, a small farming community in the Mildura Rural City area of far north-west Victoria.

Is Patchewollock a good place to live? +

Patchewollock suits farming families connected to the Mallee grain district, offering a very affordable and remote rural lifestyle. It is better known as a roadside attraction stop than a permanent residential destination.

What is the postcode for Patchewollock? +

The postcode for Patchewollock is 3491.

Is Patchewollock a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Patchewollock is part of the Yarriambiack LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.