Shepparton began as a sheep station and river crossing. It later became an important railway town. Today it is an agricultural and manufacturing city. It is at the centre of the Goulburn Valley irrigation system, one of the largest centres of irrigation in Australia. It is a major regional service city and is the civic administration centre for the City of Greater Shepparton. The Greater Shepparton area includes the towns of Tatura, Merrigum, Mooroopna, Murchison, Dookie, and Grahamvale.