KERANG

town, northern Victoria, Australia, on the Loddon River. It was settled in 1857; its name is derived from an Aboriginal term meaning cockatoo, parasite, or moon. Declared a shire in 1871, it was made (1888) the terminus of a railroad from Koondrook on the New South Wales border. Kerang is now on the rail line to Melbourne, 150 miles (240 km) southeast, and is the centre of an area of intensive irrigation (supplied by the Turrumbarry Weir) that produces grains, wool, citrus fruits, and dairy products. Kerang lies at the junction of the Murray Valley and Loddon highways and is also an important railhead for shipping livestock. It has iron and brass foundries, sawmills and flour mills, and agricultural, tool, and clothing plants. Pop. (1989 est.) 4,080.