Serving as a gateway to the Pink Lakes of Murray-Sunset National Park, Underbool is a charming country town in Victoria’s Mallee region. Its post office opened in 1912 following the arrival of the Ouyen to Marryaville railway and the town is now an important hub for the grain farmers and graziers that work the surrounding land.
Things to do in Underbool
In the heart of town is the Underbool Railway Station, which once featured a unique station building topped by a Queen Anne-style tiled roof. It boasted a “refreshment room” that held the first liquor license in town, with a large brick cellar beneath the station for keeping goods cold. Today, only the ganger’s hut and a goods shed remain at the site, together with several silos.
A short stroll from the railway station is the Pioneer and Early Settlement Memorial, which honours the courage and strength of the town’s earliest settlers. Also nearby is a replica of the train used by the Sailor Salt Company to transport salt from Lake Becking to the Linga Railway Station.
To the north of Underbool sprawls Murray-Sunset National Park, which is one of the few semi-arid regions in Australia that remains largely untouched. It’s famed for its Pink Lakes, which change colour throughout the year from a rich pink to pure white. You can stretch your legs along one of the walking trails that access the lakes, with the park particularly stunning in spring with its wildflower displays.
Getting around Underbool
Underbool is just under two hours’ drive from Mildura while Melbourne is 5.5 hours away. Adelaide and Adelaide Airport are around 3.5 hours in the other direction. Long-distance buses connect from destinations across Victoria and South Australia to Underbool while the town is compact enough to explore on foot.