Alexandra, Victoria

Alexandra
Victoria
Grant Street
Alexandra
Location in Shire of Murrindindi
Coordinates 37°11′30″S 145°42′35″E / 37.19167°S 145.70972°E / -37.19167; 145.70972Coordinates: 37°11′30″S 145°42′35″E / 37.19167°S 145.70972°E / -37.19167; 145.70972
Population 2,656 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 3714
Elevation 221 m (725 ft)
Location
LGA(s) Shire of Murrindindi
State electorate(s) Eildon
Federal Division(s) Indi
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
20.6 °C
69 °F		 6.6 °C
44 °F		 687.5 mm
27.1 in

Alexandra is a significant town in Victoria, Australia. It is 130 kilometres north east of the State Capital, Melbourne. Located at the junction of the Goulburn Valley Highway (B340) and Maroondah Highway (B360), , in the Shire of Murrindindi local government area. At the 2011 census, Alexandra had a population of 2,656.[1]. The area has expanded since and is developing steadily.

Alexandra celebrated 150 years existence as a town during March, 2017 with large numbers participating in the celebrations over a number of weeks.

Lake Eildon is only 12 kilometres to the east of the Alexandra Regional Centre.

Alexandra is the biggest town in

this part of Victoria and the headquarters of the municipality as well as many local departments and businesses.

Being in the upper reaches of the major Goulburn River Alexandra has been a strategic part of the development of this part of the State of Victoria for 150 years.

History

The town was settled in the late 1860s, with a Post Office opening on 15 March 1867 (known until 24 April 1867) as Redgate.[2] The town was originally known as Redgate, or Red Gate Diggings.[3] The current name either derives from Alexandra of Denmark when the shire was given a statue of her, or from three men named Alexander (Alesander, McGregor, Alexander Don, and Alexander Luckie) who discovered gold in the area in 1866.[3]Alexandra has a rich history encompassing gold mining, farming and timber. Industry and commerce has developed along with many other pursuits over a broad spectrum.

Alexandra, at the gateway to the high country & the snow, has played a big part in the development of

Victoria’s high country, mountain cattle grazing and particularly the timber industry that has resulted in Victoria being able to develop.

The railway to Alexandra arrived as a branch line of the Mansfield railway line in 1909, and closed on 18 November 1978.[4] In 2012, the closed rail line was used as part of the route for the 134 km long Great Victorian Rail Trail.

The Rubicon Tramway connected Alexandra with the village of Rubicon, at the junction of the Rubicon and Royston Rivers.[5]

Alexandra today

Many tourists pass through this town on their way to the Mount Buller ski resort from Melbourne and also the large Lake Eildon is close by. The Fraser Camping area bordering Lake Eildon within the Eildon State Park is a short drive from Alexandra.

The town contains the Timber Tramway and Museum (located at the Alexandra Railway Station), and the National Trust classified post office and law courts. There is a local market on the second Saturday of each month from September to May, an annual art show at Easter, an agricultural show and rose festival in November, and the annual Truck, Rod and Ute Show in June. Alexandra is also situated on the Goulburn River.

An annual Christmas Tree Festival is held in December and in July 2015 Alexandra will have their first Beanie festival.

Local radio

Local Community Radio station 3UGE (UGFM) is based in Alexandra. After many years of providing support to the local community during emergencies, UGFM became the first community station in Australia to be given official Emergency Broadcaster status.[6]

UGFM - Radio Murrindindi broadcasts across the Murrindindi Shire from four studios located at Alexandra, Marysville, Kinglake and Yea, and transmitters located at Alexandra & Lake Eildon on 106.9FM, Marysville & Lake Mountain on 98.5FM, Yea & Highlands on 88.9FM and Flowerdale on 98.9FM. Currently, UGFM employs an intern from LaTrobe University on Friday mornings from 9-12.

The station has a large listening base throughout the large Murrindindi Shire.

............................

Vision Alexandra 87.6 FM began broadcasting in Alexandra on 24 February 2018. This relay station is operated by Vision Christian Media.

Notable people

  • Bernhard Smith 1820-1885, sculptor, painter, police magistrate [7]
  • Arnold Fielder Downer 1895-1984, civil engineer, construction contractor and company director who founded the Downer Group in 1933
  • John William Leckie (1872-1947) was an Australian politician. He served as a Senator for Victoria from 1935 to 1947, having previously been a member of the House of from 1917 to 1919 and the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1913 to 1917
  • Bridget McKenzie (born 1969), politician, deputy leader of the National Party, Minister for Sport, Minister for Rural Health, Minister for Regional Communications

Sport

The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Yarra Valley Mountain Football League.

Alexandra has a horse racing club which schedules around four race meetings a year including one on New Years Day and the Alexandra Cup meeting in March.[8]

Golfers play at the Alexandra Golf Club on Gordon Street,[9] or at the course of the Stonelea Country Estate on Connellys Creek Road.[10]

The Alexandra Speedway hosts dirt track motor racing throughout the year, with major events coinciding with the annual Truck, Ute and Rod show weekend.

See also

References

Aerial view of Alexandra
  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Alexandra (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 November 2013. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 2008-04-11
  3. 1 2 Kennedy, B: Australian Place Names, page 4. ABC Books, 2006
  4. ↑ Sid Brown (March 1990), "Tracks Across the State", Newsrail, Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division): 71–76.
  5. ↑ Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, November, 1940 pp54-55
  6. ↑ Turbo (April 28, 2010). "UGFM – An Official State Broadcaster – Emergency Information". lakeeildon.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Country Racing Victoria, Alexandra Race Club, archived from the original on 2015-03-17, retrieved 2009-05-07
  9. ↑ Golf Select, Alexandra, retrieved 2009-05-11
  10. ↑ Golf Select, Stonelea, retrieved 2009-05-11
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