Creative locals are putting this Victorian town back on the map

Not so long ago, in 2007, Dimboola - immortalised in the eponymous 1979 movie - was one of 40 Victorian towns identified by The Age as "dying". Economic blows such as opening a highway bypass in the 1980s, the loss of daily rail services in the '90s, the Millennium Drought, and the fire that destroyed the town's iconic art deco pub in 2003 severely impacted the economy and tested local resilience.

Former Melbourne restaurateurs and life partners Chan and Jamie Uoy carefully researched the Wimmera town to help them decide whether to buy in. They were surprised and buoyed by the comments they discovered online. "It gave us a window into the community spirit," says Chan. "I said to Jamie, 'I think that's enough for us to take the risk'." They purchased the old bank in 2019, opened the Imaginarium, and haven't looked back. The Uoys aren't the only people recognising Dimboola's potential. The regional council, locals and newcomers are all taking a bet on the town's appeal. From the bustling main street to the popular caravan park, the modern library building and the new Tower Park - located where the pub once stood - Dimboola doesn't feel like a place that's dying.

There's a lot to see and do on a Saturday-morning stroll in Dimboola. Kim Cross's Rural Industry Collectibles, housed in the Star Theatre building, is filled with retro kitchen wares from cake tins to jelly moulds and everything in between. Jo Donnelly's Dimboola Vintage has an extensive collection of cameras, art deco homewares, delicate porcelain and jewellery. The Forbidden Forest is a recently opened fairytale-themed gift shop and cafe. The Dimboola Store has queues for excellent coffee. There are also boutiques, an op-shop, and artists and photography studios, many of which opened in or since the pandemic.

A block back from the main street, the 1924-built Victoria Hotel is a classic country pub with deep verandahs and excellent pub food. Its charming retro decor evokes its early 20th-century origins. Licensees for 13 years, welcoming hosts Meran and Stoph Pilmore have an unofficial community hub. The couple is also behind plans for a brewery located opposite the Imaginarium, and Meran is the creative force behind an inviting laundromat stocked with books and vintage treasures.

In this creative, entrepreneurial environment, it's not hard to see why the out-of-the-box idea for a steampunk festival took hold. "Steampunk is about reimagining the past to be a better place than it was," says Chan. "We thought, let's reimagine Dimboola full of top hats again, but this time inclusive of everyone." The first festival ran in 2021 and attracted almost 3000 people, and the 2022 festival saw demand for accommodation soar. Now a biennial celebration, in 2025 it will be the signature event for the region.

Regional revitalisation is challenging, and there's never a simple solution. The post-drought greening of the town and a now flowing river, the popularity of the region's Silo Art Trail, pandemic tree-changers, and investment in infrastructure like the caravan park have all played a role, but for many locals, it's simply the people that have made the real difference. "Every person that's established a business here has had an idea, and they've just run with it," says Meran. "Dimboola has flourished because no one in this town has ever told anyone 'No'."

Loch Lel Lake Reserve: Loch Lel Lake is one of four pink lakes in the Wimmera Mallee region, only a six-minute drive from Dimboola. Its rosy hue is thanks to an algae that produces a pink colour when the conditions are right. Crunch through the salt crystals on the shore or take a photo from the convenient viewing platform. parks.vic.gov

Little Desert National Park: The Little Desert stretches from Dimboola west to the South Australian border. The national park area and the river - Barringgi Gadyin - remain important places for the Wotjobaluk people, with scarred trees, shell middens, stone tools and oven mounds found in the area. Visitors can experience multi-day or short bush walks, 4WD adventures, birdwatching or riverside camping. The southern entrance to the park is easily accessed from Dimboola's main street. parks.vic.gov.au

Arkona Silo: Only 11 kilometres north of Dimboola, the Arkona Silo is one of the Wimmera Mallee Silo Art Trail's 13 painted silos. Painted by the renowned Scottish street artist SMUG, it features a portrait of the late Arkona local Roley Klinge. siloarttrail.com

Murtoa Stick Shed: Built to store grain during World War Two, the National Heritage-listed Stick Shed was made from 560 unmilled mountain ash poles and 150 tonnes of corrugated iron. With its tall timbers, imposing space and dramatic shafts of light, it's no wonder it's been named "the Cathedral of the Wimmera". thestickshed.com.au

Mount Arapiles: One of Australia's most popular climbing locations, Mount Arapiles is also a great walking spot, a nature conservation area, and home to many significant Indigenous cultural heritage sites. parks.vic.gov

Pinball Museum, Oasis Motel, Nhill: The collection of pinball machines at Nhill's Pinball Museum is not just to be admired; manager Lyndon Carter encourages visitors to play a game or two while there. Relive your childhood on the classic machines or try your luck on newer models; more than 90 years of pinball history are on display. pinballmuseum.com.au

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Getting there: Dimboola is roughly four hours' drive from Adelaide or Melbourne. The Overland travels between Adelaide and Melbourne four times a week, stopping in Dimboola around 1.30pm. journeybeyondrail.com.au/journeys/overland/

Staying there: The glamorous Dimboola Imaginarium has rooms from $160. The Victoria Hotel has classic pub accommodation (shared bathroom) from $75 a room. dimboolaimaginarium.com; victoriahoteldimboola.com.au

Explore more: visitwimmeramallee.com.au/dimboola

The writer travelled at her own expense.