It is located on the Western Highway, north of Little Desert National Park, in the Shire of West Wimmera local government area.

The Shire of West Wimmera prohibits the felling of dead trees to ensure that they have adequate nesting sites.

According to the 2006 Census 31 percent of employed people are engaged in the sheep, cattle and grain farming industry.

[2] The wool industry is celebrated with Kaniva's 'sheep art'; statues along the main street painted by local community groups.

The nearest fuel station, located in Nhill, is an 80 kilometres (50 mi) round trip.

In 2004 the Kaniva Community Co-operative was formed and a decision was made to raise the money, over A$400 000 to buy the business.

It may derive from Kinninvie in Durham, England, or from Cniva, a 3rd-century Gothic chieftain who began the invasion of the Roman Empire, or from an Aboriginal word.

[6] The formally recognised traditional owners for the Kaniva area are the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagik Nations.

The Western Highway is closed for two hours while the local people shop and socialise, celebrating the season, and children have a giant water fight.

Current coach of the North Melbourne Football Club, Alastair Clarkson, is from Kaniva.

Artist Marcus Wills, winner of the 2006 Archibald Prize, was born & raised in Kaniva.

[14] Kaniva-Leeor United formed following the 1997 merger between Kaniva and Leeor and includes players from the Kaniva-Serviceton area.

Each of the sites has multiple pits and trenches that contain a dangerous mix of toxic materials including flammable chemicals, medical waste, pesticides, asbestos and gas cylinders.EPA Victoria removed the waste from the 32 sites at Lemon Springs and filled 25 of them with clean soil making it the largest project of this kind in Australia.