Manangatang

Manangatang /məˈnæŋɡətæŋ/ is a remote town in north-west Victoria, Australia. At the 2011 census, Manangatang had a population of 479.[1] It is sometimes noted for its unusual name, from an Aboriginal term - "manang" meaning land and "kaaiti" meaning water.

Manangatang
Victoria
Wattle Street, the main street of Manangatang
Manangatang
Coordinates35°03′0″S 142°52′0″E
Population479 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s)3546
Location
  • 412 km (256 mi) NW of Melbourne
  • 85 km (53 mi) NW of Swan Hill
  • 58 km (36 mi) E of Ouyen
  • 48 km (30 mi) W of Tooleybuc
LGA(s)Rural City of Swan Hill
State electorate(s)Mildura
Federal Division(s)Mallee
Localities around Manangatang:
Winnambool Bolton Natya
Kulwin Manangatang Piangil
Gerahmin Cocamba, Chinkapook Turoar

Transport

Manangatang is positioned on the Robinvale railway line. Manangatang was the terminus from 1914 until the line was extended in 1921. Passenger service to Manangatang railway station ceased in 1978. The Mallee Highway crosses the railway and the Robinvale–Sea Lake Road at Manangatang.

The Avoca railway line is to be reopened (as of 2017) as standard gauge and upgraded to 21-tonne axle loads, with insertion of over 100,000 new concrete sleepers. The second reopening of this cross country line is primarily to allow for the carriage of mineral sands from Manangatang to a processing plant at Hamilton.[2][3][4]

History

A Mr A T Creswick, who held the Bumbang station, had a hut on or near the present township. Surveyed blocks, each of about one square mile in area, were available in 1911. Manangatang was proclaimed a town in 1915. In January 1919, the local police station was set up with mounted Constable E E Dunkley in charge. 1930 saw settlement by some Punjabi emigrants. Mrs Della Dillon opened a store in the town in 1912. The first sale of township subdivision was in 1913 at prices ranging from 15 to 30 pounds.

The post office opened on 6 January 1913 when the township was settled.[5] Miss Alice McKinnon was the Post Mistress from that time until 1958 when she sold the premises. Her 44 years of service was recognised by the public at a gathering in her honour that year. A progress association was successful in having state School no 3263 opened on 26 September 1914.

Community

The local area consists mainly of farming, primarily wheat and sheep but also cows and birds such as squab.

The Manangatang Football Club, an Australian rules football team then competing in the Mallee Football League, was made famous by a catchphrase of commentator Lou Richards; "They couldn't beat the Manangatang thirds."[6]

The town in conjunction with nearby township Tooleybuc, New South Wales now has an Australian rules football team competing in the Central Murray Football League.[7]

Manangatang has a horse racing club, the Manangatang Racing Club, which holds one race meeting a year, the Manangatang Cup meeting on Caulfield Guineas day in October.[8]

Golfers play at the course of the Manangatang Golf Club at the Recreation Reserve. In 2007 Keagan Grant was named president of the Manangatang Golf Club.[9]

The town possesses Victoria's smallest public hospital and nursing home. Manangatang also has a combined high school and primary school, a preschool and a tennis club.

Manangatang has an Annual Reunion on the second Saturday of February at approx 10.30 am in the Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne. The gathering is near the Fairy Tree and the kiosk. This reunion has been going for over 75 years.[10]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Manangatang (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  2. "Murray Basin Rail Project". Public Transport Victoria. 2013. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  3. Hunt, Peter (26 May 2017). "Rail freight Victoria: Works to cause more delays for grain". The Weekly Times. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  4. "Murray Basin rail project".
  5. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  6. McClure, Geoff (2003). "Sporting Life". The Age. Retrieved 29 January 2007.
  7. "Tooleybuc Manangatang". Full Points Footy. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  8. "Manangatang Racing Club". Country Racing website. Country Racing Victoria. 2010.
  9. Golf Select. "Manangatang". Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  10. Morton, Clair; Speirs, Michelle. "Annual pilgrimage from Melbourne to Fitzroy". The Guardian. Fairfax Regional Media. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  • Back to Manangatang Book Easter 1959

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