Tallangatta

Tallangatta Victoria
Tallangatta viewed from the town lookout in January 2004. The Mitta arm of Lake Hume can be seen behind the town
Tallangatta Location in Shire of Towong, Victoria
Coordinates	36°12′S 147°15′E / 36.200°S 147.250°E / -36.200; 147.250Coordinates: 36°12′S 147°15′E / 36.200°S 147.250°E / -36.200; 147.250
Population	1,082 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	3700
Location	349 km (217 mi) NE of Melbourne 38 km (24 mi) SE of Wodonga
LGA(s)	Shire of Towong
State electorate(s)	Benambra
Federal Division(s)	Indi

Tallangatta (/təˈlæŋɡætə/) is a town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. The town lies on the banks of the Mitta Arm of Lake Hume, approximately 38 kilometres (24 mi) south-east of Albury-Wodonga along the Murray Valley Highway. At the 2016 census, Tallangatta had a population of 1,082.^[1]

History[]

Tallangatta was founded in the 1870s, the Post Office opening on 15 May 1871.^[2]

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 of 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).

The most distinctive aspect of the town's history is that it was moved 8 kilometres (5 mi) to the west in the 1950s to a site known as Bolga to allow for the expansion of Lake Hume. Stories of the transition from old town to new town were captured in the 1988 book Slates and Suet Puddings by Carmyl Winkler.^[3] On 14 April 1955 the Post Office was renamed Tallangatta East and a new Tallangatta office opened at the new town location.^[4] The sign welcoming motorists to town reads "Tallangatta, the town that moved in the 1950s".

The grid layout of the streets of Old Tallangatta are clearly visible in Google Earth.

The Tallangatta Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1990.^[5]

Population[]

According to the 2016 Census the population of Tallangatta is 1,082, of which:^[6]

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 1.8% of the population
• 83.1% of people were born in Australia. 3.1% of the population was born in England, 1.2% in New Zealand, 0.9% in India, 0.8% in Germany and 0.7% in USA
• 92.3% of people spoke only English at home.
• The most common responses for religion were No Religion 28.1%, Anglican 22.9% Catholic 20.2%, and Uniting 8.4%.

Economy[]

Beef and dairy cattle farming is the dominant industry, with a small abattoir.^[7] In 2016, Tallangatta was declared a "Notable Town", by Heritage Australia. The main street is long for a town of its size and is quite unique. The unique architecture is home to a thriving retail and hospitality sector that contributes to local employment and tourism. Services include a small hospital,^[8] and two primary schools, a secondary school and an integrated childcare, library and community centre. A considerable number of residents now commute to work in Albury–Wodonga.

The decline of the water frontage of Lake Hume, due to sporadic drought conditions and the privatisation of Australia waterways, has had an impact on the town. Although through initiatives, such as the Tallangatta Tomorrow project funded by state government, the township is experiencing a new lease on life.^{[citation needed]}

There are several successful community focused initiatives operating within the township including The Hub, the Uniting Church Op Shop, Tallangatta Food Swap, Plasticwise Tallangatta, Boomerang Bags Tallangatta, and the Tallangatta Community Theatre Group.^{[citation needed]}

The town has a high proportion of retirees, with some elderly people cared for at Bolga Court Hostel.^[9] This heritage is celebrated in the popular annual Tallangatta Fifties Festival;^[10] however, as of June 2018, has ended due to financial concerns and feedback.^[11]

Sport[]

Tallangatta has an Australian rules football team, the Tallangatta Football Club competing in the Tallangatta & District Football League.

Golfers play at the Tallangatta Golf Club on Coorilla Street.^[12]

Notable residents[]

• Phillip Law, scientist and Antarctic explorer was born in Tallangatta in 1912
• Doug Smith, North Melbourne footballer grew up in Tallangatta
• William Yates, a politician who served in both the British and Australian parliaments, spent his last years in Tallangatta
• Ian Trevaskis, writer and author; Children's Book Council of Australia award-winning author

References[]

External links[]

Media related to Tallangatta, Victoria at Wikimedia Commons

• Photos of old Tallangatta at Culture Victoria