OUYEN Ouyen is the next town visited on the by-pass route to Mildura. Ouyen is another of those small Victorian towns that has the majority of essential services. Being the warmest place in Victoria and also having the distinction of having a very nice pineapple slice, gives cause to spend some time at Ouyen. The name is believed to be is derived from the Wergaia word 'wuya-wuya', which some believe means 'pink-eared duck', whilst others claim it means 'ghost waterhole'. The town was established around the rail link built in 1906 on the Mildura Line. The Post Office opened on 22 October 1907. It is also the junction for a railway line west parallel to the Mallee Highway. This line is presently in poor condition and used only for collecting grain from silos in small towns between Ouyen and the South Australian border. Property became available for purchase in 1910, and much of it was cleared for farming. Ouyen is the commercial and transport centre for the surrounding grain farming region. The Ouyen churches  are of modern design. The Ouyen Hotel, and boy what a pub is still to this day looking after its thirst constituents. The Ouyen War Memorial is located in the cbd. There is more to this place than meet the eye and an extended perusal or stop over is certainly in order.  Heritage diary