Eagle Point, Victoria
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Tone|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = town
| name = Eagle Point
| state = vic
| image =
| caption =
| pop = 1,094
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2016}}
| established = late 1840s
| postcode = 3878
| elevation = 11
| coordinates = {{coord|37.8957697|S|147.661128|E|display=inline,title}}
| dist1 = 12
| dir1 = S
| location1= Bairnsdale
| dist2 = 80
| dir2 = NE
| location2= Sale
| dist3 =291
| dir3 = E
| location3= Melbourne
| lga = Shire of East Gippsland
| use_lga_map = yes
| stategov =
| fedgov =
| maxtemp = 20.7
| mintemp = 8.7
| rainfall = 694.8
}}
Eagle Point is a town in Victoria, Australia, in the Shire of East Gippsland, by Lake King.{{Cite web |title=Eagle Point {{!}} Victorian Places |url=https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/eagle-point |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=www.victorianplaces.com.au}} The area encompasses the red limestone cliffs by the Mitchell River and Mitchell River silt jetties. It is a popular tourist destination.
History
The Gunai name for Eagle Point is Nurrung, which translates to moon.{{cite book |last1=Clark |first1=Ian D. |title=Dictionary of Aboriginal placenames of Victoria |date=2002 |publisher=Victorian Aboriginal Corp. for Languages |location=Melbourne |isbn=9780957936065 |page=80}}
Eagle Point is associated with conflict between the local Gunai Aboriginal people and settlers. In 1840-41, Angus McMillan and his men killed an unknown number of Gunai people in skirmishes during "the defense of Bushy Park".{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Flife%2Fweekend-australian-magazine%2Fcal-flyn-the-terrible-truths-in-my-family-history%2Fnews-story%2F7785e4d89d6cd479139be969a88f4047&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=203c3fd3d45ba1b10811cf2c88fd4e0b-1567290862|title=Subscribe to The Australian | Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps|website=www.theaustralian.com.au}} In the mid to late 1840s, Eagle Point was the headquarters for the Border Police under Commissioner Tyers. In conjunction with the Native Police force based at nearby Boisdale, this force conducted regular raids upon Gunai camps across the region.{{cite book|last1=Fels|first1=M.H.|title=Good Men and True. PhD Thesis.|date=1986|publisher=University of Melbourne|location=Melbourne}}
Demographics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Census reported the town had a ratio of 51 males to 49 females. The median age was 56 years of age, 18 years above the Australian average.
= Nationalities and Languages =
At 79.2%, the majority of people living in Eagle Point were born in Australia. The other most common countries of birth were England, Germany, New Zealand, Netherlands and Scotland. In Eagle Point, 90.1% of people only spoke English at home. The percentage of Italian speakers was 0.8%, 0.7% spoke German, while Afrikaans, Finnish and Malay speakers each were 0.3%.
= Religion =
The town of Eagle Point is 63.1% religious, with 19.4% identifying as Anglican, 15.8% as Catholic and 4.8% as belonging to the Uniting Church. 36.9% of the population were reported as having no religion.
= Relationship Status =
= Employment Status =
51.0% of people living in Eagle Point are employed full-time, and 35.3% are working part-time. Eagle Point has an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
Education
File:D. R. Long - Eagle Point, Bairnsdale.jpg
Eagle Point is served by a primary school, Eagle Point Primary School, founded in 1894. It is situated on School Road and Eagle Point Rd. In 2010, it completed a redevelopment project which included two new buildings.{{Cite web |url=http://www.eaglepoint.vic.edu.au/our-school/school-profile |title=School Profile | Eagle Point Primary School |access-date=24 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509010506/http://www.eaglepoint.vic.edu.au/our-school/school-profile |archive-date=9 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}
Tourism
Eagle Point is known for its tourism.{{cite news
|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/climate-watch/come-back-the-worst-is-over-urge-gippsland-tourism-operators/2007/07/03/1183351214112.html |title=Come back, the worst is over, urge Gippsland tourism operators |last=Doherty |first=Ben |date=4 July 2007 |work=The Age |access-date=13 February 2013}} It has two caravan parks: Eagle Point Caravan Park{{cite web |url=http://www.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/Services/Council_Caravan_Parks/Eagle_Point_Caravan_Park |title=Eagle Point Caravan Park |publisher=East Gippsland Shire Council |access-date=13 February 2013}} and the Lake King Caravan Park. Eagle Point's main attraction is the reserve. Kangaroos can regularly be seen on silt jetties. The other attraction is Lake King or The Mitchell River; Lake King is sometimes closed off to the public due to algal blooms.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-01/blue-green-algae-warning-for-gippsland-lakes/3707138 |title=Blue-green algae warning for Gippsland Lakes |date=1 December 2011 |work=ABC News |access-date=13 February 2013}} Bairnsdale Riviera Triathlon Club hosts an annual event in Eagle Point each summer.{{cite news|url=http://www.rivieratriclub.com.au/events/eagle-point-tri |title=Bairnsdale Riviera Triathlon Club }}
Arts & Culture
Although there are no art galleries in Eagle Point, the town has a small number of professional artists living and working in the area.{{cite news
|url=http://www.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/Community/Community_Directory/Community_636250885558951386 |title=East Gippsland Community Directory}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Towns in East Gippsland Shire}}
{{authority control}}