Nestled a stone’s throw from the railway line that connects the neighbouring north west Victorian towns of Kerang and Swan Hill, is the rural village of Mystic Park.
During early settlement, farm selections were taken up in the 1870s when the Murrabit pastoral run was subdivided.
The Murrabit or Marabout pastoral run, established in 1848 was a subdivision of the Reedy Lake run (1845) which extended as far southwest as Quambatook.
Pastoral runs relate to areas of land occupied by early European settlers for grazing, before regulation by state and colonial governments.
The runs were eventually subject to a yearly lease payment, and the option to also lease up to 640 acres of adjacent land
The parcels of land to be subdivided, were located on the edge of the Mallee, a not-so-favourable destination.
However, the two neighbouring lakes, Kangaroo Lake and Lake Tutchewop, offered the prospect of a reliable water supply and therefore the potential for irrigation.
Proclamation of Mystic Park as a township was made three years after the opening of the regions railway in 1890.
This small country town grew in size and population shortly after the opening of a mechanics institute in 1894 and the local school in 1900.
The school unfortunately closed in 1977, due to dwindling enrolments, with its assets divided between nearby the schools at Lake Boga and Lake Charm.
A turning point in the townships early settlement history, came a decade after the schools opening, in 1910 when the Mystic Park Irrigation Company was founded.
The organisation drew its water lifeline from the nearby Kangaroo Lake.
It took a further ten years for the town to establish a syndicate comprising of several local irrigated citrus orchards.
This syndicate was headed by businessman and advocate for the development of the regions irrigation, J. R Gorton.
Iconic bush pub
The origin of the name is obscure, beginning with the Mystic Park Hotel (1879) which was opened on the coach run to Swan Hill.
The inspiration for the hotel’s name may have been the publican’s affection for horse-racing, as there was a Mystic Park race track in Massachusetts, USA, until about 1900.
In 1982 the Mystic Park bush race began, echoing the racing clubs formed in the 1920s and in the 1880s by the original publican.
The town’s present pub, a glorious two-storey structure, its most iconic building.
Built in 1936 this wonderful bush pub has all the quirks and charms you’d expect. In its heyday, it was a thriving hotel with pristine accommodation and hearty meals.
At the time, the railway train stopped at Mystic Park Station which is now closed.
The accommodation was used up until the late 80s. After 30 years, the hotel presents 13 renovated upstairs rooms.
Located a few kilometres from Kangaroo Lake, it can be a little tricky to find but well worth discovering.
