Holbrook

Main Attraction

The Shire’s main attraction is the HMAS Otway submarine right in the centre of Holbrook and the adjacent submarine museum. Here you can not only see and actually climb onto the 90m long submarine but learn of Holbrook’s unique relationship with submarines and Commander Norman D Holbrook VC (deceased) after whom Holbrook is named. It’s a great hands-on experience and one not to be missed by anyone travelling in the Greater Hume Shire.

Childcare and Education

Holbrook, Culcairn, Henty, Jindera and Burrumbuttock all have day care and early childhood centres. Other villages are reliant on these towns for such childcare services unless smaller community based services are offered. Walla Walla has childcare through FARMS (mobile Kindergarten and child care).FARMS also operates at Henty and Woomargama. 

Most towns and villages have a primary school with sixteen across the Shire. These include both private and public, with some affiliated to a range of Christian denominations. There is one central public high school in the Shire being Billabong High at Culcairn. A private co-educational secondary College is located at Walla Walla.

Sporting

Sport is a dominant part of life in the Greater Hume Shire area. Each town has its local football teams and many of the locals are involved in weekend netball competitions. Sport brings the residents of the towns together and it brings the towns within the Shire together on a regular basis. The Shire is also well equipped with tennis courts, swimming pools, golf courses, bowling greens, basketball courts and other sporting facilities.

Health & Medical

The Greater Hume Shire offers a diverse range of healthcare services and Holbrook, Culcairn and Henty have general hospitals. However, there is only one ambulance station which is located at Holbrook. Holbrook, Henty, Culcairn and Jindera have local GPs and pharmacies. There are a number of specialised health services available in the main towns and the Shire’s proximity to the large regional centres of Wagga Wagga and Albury means that higher order services are reasonably easy and quick to access. There are also a number of aged care facilities in the Greater Hume Shire area.

Recreation

The Shire is a great location for equine pursuits, exploring historical buildings and historic sites, pioneer history, bushrangers’ hideouts, walking trails, national parks and more. Major towns have a selection of excellent cafes, restaurants and farm based function centres catering for weddings and other celebrations.

Transport

Greater Hume has an infrastructure advantage as it is located between major population centres and is well serviced by highways and rail. Two major highways pass through the Shire being the Hume Highway and the Olympic Highway. Although the towns of Holbrook and Woomargama will be bypassed within the next two years by the Hume Highway, both towns have engaged in strategic planning exercises to mitigate any impacts from the bypasses and the towns are expected to flourish in  due course. Highway construction planning has ensured that significant interchanges both North and South of these towns will be provided to facilitate continuing easy access. The Hume Highway is the primary freight route between Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra and is also the main route for intra-regional travel.

The Olympic Highway links Cowra and Albury via Culcairn and Henty and offers an alternative route to Sydney through the regional centres of Wagga Wagga and Bathurst. These road links make Greater Hume a strategic and convenient location for residents and businesses especially those with road transport and logistics focus.

The Shire is also located on the main Southern rail route between Sydney and Melbourne with railway stations at Henty and Culcairn enabling easy access to regular regional and capital city services. The Shire is also within close proximity to Albury regional airport with frequent flights and choice of airlines to Sydney and Melbourne.

Capital city coach services also pass through Holbrook with established central bus stop location in Holbrook.

Shopping

The main towns offer supermarket facilities with a good range of general stores, especially servicing the agricultural sector and most villages have general stores. Some stores, such as butchers, offer outstanding local produce and a wide variety of product. Major shopping requirements can easily be satisfied with extensive facilities available in Albury and Wagga Wagga, both with drive-times under an hour.

Entertainment

Country people are renowned for making their own entertainment especially at outdoors functions including BBQs, bonfires and social events at people’s homes. In the main town areas, notable author visits to the library, film nights at the local hall, balls and other activities are sources of entertainment. Much local entertainment is generated through activities of the sporting and special interest clubs eg pony clubs, dog shows etc.