Boolarra is a small township located in the
Latrobe Valley, in central Gippsland, Victoria,
Australia. At the 2006 census, Boolarra had a
population of 528 (The postcode area had a
population of 1119 which includes the nearby
town of Yinnar). The Boolarra Folk Festival is
held in the town every year in March and
attracts music lovers from around Australia and
the world. Boolarra is also infamous for
producing the Boolarra strain of carp (Cyprinus
carpio) which, after their release into the
Murray River near Mildura, spread throughout
Australia.

Modernisation of farming and improved
transport links have brought changes to many
small rural towns, with car travel to the larger
commercial centres in the Latrobe Valley
increasing.

Boolarra, no longer a centre, has settled down
to become an attractive town with a friendly
rural atmosphere.

Today a large fish farm exports goldfish to the
national market. Farming is still important, as is
Timber, which is harvested from plantation
forests in the hills. There has been an influx of
new residents, retirees and young families from
the city. The old railway line, closed in 1974, has
become an attractive Rail ‑Trail bush walk from
Boolarra to Mirboo North. The Old Boolarra Pub
has been restored.

There are two general stores in Boolarra today,
numerous sporting clubs use the recreational
facilities of the Memorial Park, a modern school
and kindergarten provide excellent educational
facilities, and an historical society has
converted the Old Boolarra School into a
museum to preserve the local heritage.

In 2011, The Boolarra Australian Rules Football
team, known as the Demons, won their first
Mid-Gippsland premiership since 1997,
defeating the Trafalgar Bloods.