Tallangatta, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Tallangatta is a small town in north-eastern Victoria
, Australia
. At the 2006 census
, Tallangatta had a population of 950.
The town is situated on the banks of the Mitta Arm of Lake Hume
, approximately 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) south-east of Albury-Wodonga
along the Murray Valley Highway
.
On the arrival of the railway it served as a rail gateway for the Mitta
and Upper Murray
valleys (the Upper Murray only until the railway was extended to Cudgewa
). A considerable amount of gold
and tin
mining occurred in the late 19th and early 20th century, though, unlike Beechworth, little evidence for this remains. While initially profitable, the mining generally ended because the deeper reefs contained not only gold but other metals, and mining technology at the time was not advanced enough to cope with these and extract the gold profitably.
Since that time, Tallangatta has been a service centre for the local farming community, with a butter
factory operating throughout much of the 20th century. Improved road transport links finally ended both the dairy and the rail link in the 1970s (with dairy processing operations now concentrated in Tangambalanga
, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) to the west).
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of the town's history is the fact that it was moved 8 kilometres (5 mi) to the west in the 1950s to allow for the expansion of Lake Hume. On 14 April 1955 the Post Office was renamed Tallangatta East and a new Tallangatta office opened at the new town location.
The grid layout of the streets of Old Tallangatta are clearly visible in Google Earth.
farming is the dominant industry, with a small abattoir the only substantial secondary industry. Because of the lake and the substantial number of through travellers (including many motorcyclists
who enjoy the twisty roads in the area) the town also supports a small tourist industry, with a motel and caravan park.
Services include a small hospital, and two primary schools and a secondary school. A considerable number of residents now commute
to work in Albury-Wodonga
, for these people, the beauty and recreation offered by the lake compensates for the half-hour drive to the larger centre.
team competing in the Tallangatta & District Football League
.
Golfers play at the course of the Tallangatta Golf Club on Coorilla Street.
— Actor / Writer / Director and Producer was Born in Tallangatta in 1971
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Tallangatta had a population of 950.
The town is situated on the banks of the Mitta Arm of Lake Hume
Lake Hume
Lake Hume is an artificial lake in Australia formed by the Hume Weir east of Albury-Wodonga on the Murray River just downstream of its junction with the Mitta River. The small towns of Tallangatta, Bonegilla and Bellbridge are located on the shores of Lake Hume...
, approximately 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) south-east of Albury-Wodonga
Albury-Wodonga
Albury-Wodonga is the broad settlement incorporating the twin Australian cities of Albury and Wodonga, which are separated geographically by the Murray River and politically by a state border: Albury on the north of the river is part of New South Wales while Wodonga on the south bank is in...
along the Murray Valley Highway
Murray Valley Highway
The Murray Valley Highway is a popular tourist route, which follows the south side of the Murray River in Victoria, Australia. The route effectively acts as the northern-most highway in Victoria...
.
History
Tallangatta was founded in the 1870s, the Post Office opening on 15 May 1871.On the arrival of the railway it served as a rail gateway for the Mitta
Mitta Mitta River
The Mitta Mitta River is a major tributary of the Murray River in Australia and the source of approximately 40% of the Murray's flow.The river's headwaters include Victoria's highest mountain, Mount Bogong, with the Mitta Mitta itself forming at the confluence of the Cobungra River and the Big...
and Upper Murray
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
valleys (the Upper Murray only until the railway was extended to Cudgewa
Cudgewa, Victoria
Cudgewa is a town in the Australian state of Victoria. The town is located adjacent to the Murray Valley Highway, north east of the state capital, Melbourne. Part of the Shire of Towong Local Government Area, at the 2006 census Cudgewa and the surrounding district had a population of...
). A considerable amount of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
mining occurred in the late 19th and early 20th century, though, unlike Beechworth, little evidence for this remains. While initially profitable, the mining generally ended because the deeper reefs contained not only gold but other metals, and mining technology at the time was not advanced enough to cope with these and extract the gold profitably.
Since that time, Tallangatta has been a service centre for the local farming community, with a butter
Butter
Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
factory operating throughout much of the 20th century. Improved road transport links finally ended both the dairy and the rail link in the 1970s (with dairy processing operations now concentrated in Tangambalanga
Tangambalanga, Victoria
Tangambalanga , or Tangam for short, is a small town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. It is located approximately south-east of the regional centre of Wodonga, in the Kiewa Valley, and from the Hume Weir...
, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) to the west).
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of the town's history is the fact that it was moved 8 kilometres (5 mi) to the west in the 1950s to allow for the expansion of Lake Hume. On 14 April 1955 the Post Office was renamed Tallangatta East and a new Tallangatta office opened at the new town location.
The grid layout of the streets of Old Tallangatta are clearly visible in Google Earth.
Economy
Beef and dairy cattleCattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
farming is the dominant industry, with a small abattoir the only substantial secondary industry. Because of the lake and the substantial number of through travellers (including many motorcyclists
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
who enjoy the twisty roads in the area) the town also supports a small tourist industry, with a motel and caravan park.
Services include a small hospital, and two primary schools and a secondary school. A considerable number of residents now commute
Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :...
to work in Albury-Wodonga
Albury-Wodonga
Albury-Wodonga is the broad settlement incorporating the twin Australian cities of Albury and Wodonga, which are separated geographically by the Murray River and politically by a state border: Albury on the north of the river is part of New South Wales while Wodonga on the south bank is in...
, for these people, the beauty and recreation offered by the lake compensates for the half-hour drive to the larger centre.
Sport
Tallangatta has an Australian rules footballAustralian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
team competing in the Tallangatta & District Football League
Tallangatta & District Football League
The Tallangatta and District Football League is an Australian rules football competition in north-east Victoria and the southern/border region of the New South Wales Riverina...
.
Golfers play at the course of the Tallangatta Golf Club on Coorilla Street.
Tallangatta Tomorrow project
Tallangatta has seen some major changes over the past 60 years that have had significant impacts on the town and community. In recent years the largest impact on the town has been the decline of the water frontage. This has seen the decline of tourism and residential and business settlement. The main street is long for a town of its size and due to the lack of trade has seen the business placement fragmented and buildings in need of refurbishment. There are plans to revive the fortunes of the town with an urban renewal project.Notable people
Matt NormanMatt Norman
Matthew Travis "Matt" Norman is an actor turned filmmaker, best known for his acting work on Australian TV Shows Blue Heelers, Neighbours and Stingers, U.S telemovies Moby-Dick, Silver Strand and Ghost Rider....
— Actor / Writer / Director and Producer was Born in Tallangatta in 1971
External links
- http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/tallangatta/ Photos of old Tallangatta at Culture Victoria