Trentham, Victoria
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Trentham (postcode: 3458) is a small town in the Hepburn Shire Local government area, Victoria, Australia.
Located at an altitude of 700 metres in ancient volcanic highlands 97 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, Trentham is surrounded by the dense eucalypts of Wombat State Forest on three sides, whilst to the north the highlands fall away to the vast plains of inland Victoria down the Campaspe River.
[edit] Climate
The climate is cool and moist: although summer days are very warm at 24-25 °C (75-77 °F), nights fall to around 9 °C (48 °F) even in February; whilst winters are distinctly cold with maxima of around 8 °C (46 °F) and frosty minima of 1 °C (34 °F). Snowfalls are not uncommon in the winter and the average annual precipitation is about 1,050 millimetres (42 inches).
[edit] History
Although pastoral runs were taken up in the are as early as 1838, Trentham was first settled by gold prospecters in the 1850s, and developed as the trees of Wombat Forest became exploited for timber, which built up the town. A railway line arrived in 1890 and at its peak carried up to 21,000 tonnes of freight (mostly timber) annually. However, in the 1950s the railway declined as better roads were built to connect the town with the major settlements of Victoria, and it was closed during the 1960s.
Potato growing and grazing became the mainstays of the town's economy until tourism developed in the 1970s.
[edit] Events and Attractions
Near Trentham is Trentham Falls on the Coliban River - the highest single-drop waterfall in Victoria. There are also several hot springs near the town.
In recent times, Trentham has become an alternative lifestyle centre, and Earth Garden publishing is now one of major employers in town. Because many of the first settlers were Irish, St. Patrick's day is a major community event here.
