Tallangatta

Tallangatta was founded in the 1870s, the Post Office opening on 15 May 1871.{{Citation | last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country= | access-date = 11 April 2008}}

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). Some gold and tin mining occurred in the late 19th and early 20th century, though, unlike Beechworth, little evidence of this remains. The amount of gold produced was relatively small compared to other mines elsewhere in the region.{{Cite web |last=Oppy |first=I.D. |last2=Cayley |first2=I.D. |last3=Caluzzi |first3=J. |date=1995 |title=The Geology and prospectivity of the Tallangatta 1:250 000 sheet |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1010082 |access-date=2022-04-18 |website=Geological Survey of Victoria, Department of Agriculture, Energy & Minerals |publisher=Government of Victoria |format=PDF |isbn=0 7306 7980 2 |issn=1323 4536}}

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 {{convert|15|km|mi|0}} to the west).

The most distinctive aspect of the town's history is that it was moved {{convert|8|km|mi|0}} 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.{{cite book|url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/609846 |title=Slates and suet puddings |first1=Carmyl |last1=Winkler |first2=Dulcie |last2=Callander |year=1988 |publisher=C. Winkler |isbn=9780731646500 |via=National Library of Australia}} On 14 April 1955 the Post Office was renamed Tallangatta East and a new Tallangatta office opened at the new town location.{{Citation | last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country= | access-date = 11 April 2008}} The sign welcoming motorists to town reads "Tallangatta, the town that moved in the 1950s".

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

The Tallangatta Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1990.{{cite web | url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lawrefrom/legal_services/final_report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404125854/http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lawrefrom/legal_services/final_report.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-04 |url-status=live | title=Review of Legal Services in Rural and Regional Victoria | publisher=Parliament of Victoria Law Reform Committee | date=May 2001 | access-date=12 April 2020 |pages=291–292}}

Tallangatta possesses a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), with very warm, relatively dry summers and cool, slightly wetter winters. Average maxima vary from {{convert|30.9|C}} in January to {{convert|12.3|C}} in July while average minima fluctuate between {{convert|16.7|C}} in January and {{convert|4.1|C}} in July. Mean precipitation is moderate (averaging {{convert|701.6|mm|in|abbr=on}} per annum). Tallangatta receives 111.6 precipitation days annually, with its frequency peaking in winter. The town experiences 111.4 clear days and 145.1 cloudy days per annum. Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{convert|45.5|C}} on 31 January 2020 to {{convert|-2.8|C}} on 26 July 1986.{{cite web |url = https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=72023 |title = Hume Reservoir Climate (1922-2024) (nearest AWS) |website = FarmOnline Weather |access-date = September 19, 2024}} All climate data was sourced from Hume Dam, situated {{convert|18.4|km|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of Tallangatta.

{{Weather box

|location = Tallangatta (sourced from Hume Dam) ({{coord|36.10|S|147.03|E}}, 184 m AMSL) (1922-2024 normals, extremes 1965-2024)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high C = 45.5

|Feb record high C = 44.9

|Mar record high C = 39.2

|Apr record high C = 34.8

|May record high C = 28.2

|Jun record high C = 21.6

|Jul record high C = 21.3

|Aug record high C = 24.3

|Sep record high C = 30.7

|Oct record high C = 35.2

|Nov record high C = 40.5

|Dec record high C = 42.1

|Jan high C = 30.9

|Feb high C = 30.5

|Mar high C = 27.1

|Apr high C = 21.8

|May high C = 16.8

|Jun high C = 13.1

|Jul high C = 12.3

|Aug high C = 14.3

|Sep high C = 17.5

|Oct high C = 21.1

|Nov high C = 25.1

|Dec high C = 28.7

|Jan low C = 16.7

|Feb low C = 16.6

|Mar low C = 14.0

|Apr low C = 10.1

|May low C = 7.0

|Jun low C = 4.9

|Jul low C = 4.1

|Aug low C = 5.0

|Sep low C = 6.7

|Oct low C = 9.2

|Nov low C = 11.8

|Dec low C = 14.5

|Jan record low C = 6.8

|Feb record low C = 6.7

|Mar record low C = 3.6

|Apr record low C = 1.1

|May record low C = -1.7

|Jun record low C = -2.7

|Jul record low C = -2.8

|Aug record low C = -2.3

|Sep record low C = -1.8

|Oct record low C = 1.2

|Nov record low C = 2.8

|Dec record low C = 4.4

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 50.6

|Feb precipitation mm = 41.8

|Mar precipitation mm = 47.4

|Apr precipitation mm = 51.8

|May precipitation mm = 58.3

|Jun precipitation mm = 67.3

|Jul precipitation mm = 75.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 75.4

|Sep precipitation mm = 61.0

|Oct precipitation mm = 67.6

|Nov precipitation mm = 55.4

|Dec precipitation mm = 49.4

|year precipitation mm = 701.6

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 5.7

|Feb precipitation days = 5.3

|Mar precipitation days = 5.9

|Apr precipitation days = 7.2

|May precipitation days = 10.3

|Jun precipitation days = 12.6

|Jul precipitation days = 14.5

|Aug precipitation days = 13.8

|Sep precipitation days = 11.2

|Oct precipitation days = 10.2

|Nov precipitation days = 8.2

|Dec precipitation days = 6.7

|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology (1922-2024 normals, extremes 1965-2024)

}}

According to the 2021 Census the population of Tallangatta is 1,175, of which:{{Cite web |title=2021 Census QuickStats: Tallangatta |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/SAL22426}}

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 1.9% of the population
• 82.8% of people were born in Australia. 3.2% of the population were born in England, 0.9% in Malaysia, 0.7% in the United States of America, 0.6% in Scotland and 0.5% in Samoa.
• 89.7% of people spoke only English at home, with the next most common language being Samoan, spoken by 1.0% of the population.
• The most common responses for religion were No Religion 40.1%, Anglican 18.2% Catholic 14.4%, and Uniting Church 5.4%.

Beef and dairy cattle farming is the dominant industry, with a small abattoir.[http://www.australiabigbook.com/1828/7 slaughterhouses listing], australiabigbook.com 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,[http://www.albury-wodonga.com/docs/o.htm Hospitals in the Albury-Wodonga region], albury-wodonga.com 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.[https://www.towong.vic.gov.au/1-council/council-plans-budgets-and-reports/community-plans/tallangatta-tomorrow towong.vic.gov.au]

Several community-focused initiatives operate within the township including Tallangatta Food Swap,{{cite news |date=February 5, 2021 |title=Mindful Shopping |url=https://www.tallangatta-sc.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Herald/1044.pdf |work=Tallangatta Herald |location=Tallangatta, Australia |access-date=June 26, 2024}} Boomerang Bags Tallangatta,{{cite news |date=October 22, 2020 |title=Tallangatta Health Service News |url=https://www.tallangatta-sc.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Herald/1039.pdf |work=Tallangatta Herald |location=Tallangatta, Australia |access-date=June 26, 2024}} the Tallangatta Community Theatre Group,{{cite news | last=Ebsary | first=Ellen | title=Being a teen in the digital age: 'The Identity Project' showing soon | website=The Border Mail | date=2019-09-28 | url=https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/6411178/being-a-teen-in-the-digital-age-the-identity-project-showing-soon/ | access-date=2024-06-26}} the Uniting Church Op Shop,{{cite news |date=August 6, 2020 |title=Op Shop open again |url=https://www.tallangatta-sc.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Herald/1037.pdf |work=Tallangatta Herald |location=Tallangatta, Australia |access-date=June 26, 2024}} and Plasticwise Tallangatta.{{Citation needed|date=February 2019}}

The town has a high proportion of retirees, with some elderly people cared for at Bolga Court Hostel.[http://www.tallangattahealthservice.com.au/residential_aged_care/bolga_court.html], Shire of Towong This heritage is celebrated in the popular annual Tallangatta Fifties Festival;{{cite web |url=http://www.tallangattafifties.com.au/ |title=Tallangatta Fifties Festival}} however, as of June 2018, has ended due to financial concerns and feedback.{{Cite web|last=Bunn|first=Anthony|date=19 June 2018|title=Not so nifty, Tallangatta no longer home to Fifties Festival|url=https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/5475129/not-so-nifty-tallangatta-no-longer-home-to-fifties-festival/|access-date=25 August 2020|website=The Border Mail|language=en}}

There is no scheduled public transport in Tallangatta, other than school buses which are not available to the general public. The town is mainly accessed via the Murray Valley Highway; the northern terminus of the Omeo Highway to Omeo is approximately {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of the town.

The High Country Rail Trail passes through the town; it follows the route of the Cudgewa railway line, which closed in 1981.

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.{{Citation | author= Golf Select | title = Tallangatta | url = http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=1101 | access-date = 11 May 2009}}

• 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

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category-inline|Tallangatta, Victoria}}

• [http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/tallangatta/ Photos of old Tallangatta at Culture Victoria]

{{Towns in Towong Shire}}

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Category:Mining towns in Victoria (state)

Category:Towns in Victoria (state)

Category:Shire of Towong