Jamieson, Victoria

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Jamieson Victoria
Population:	259^[1]
Postcode:	3723
Location:	220 km (137 mi) NE of Melbourne 36 km (22 mi) S of Mansfield
LGA:	Shire of Mansfield
State District:	Benalla
Federal Division:	Indi

Jamieson is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located at the junction of the Goulburn River and Jamieson River, 199 kilometres (124 mi) north-east of Melbourne. The name is believed to have been derived from George Jamieson, a shepherd who grazed sheep in the area in the 1850s. At the time of the 2006 census, Jamieson had a population of 259.^[1]

The area was first settled in 1860 and by 1861 there were approximately 300 people working the goldfields. The town site was surveyed in 1862, and a borough council was established in 1864. By 1865 the town had a Catholic chapel, an Anglican church, a school, a court house and police station, two banks, two insurance offices, five hotels and several stores. Jamieson reached its peak in the 1870s, yet a sharp decline soon followed. Most mining operations had ceased by the beginning of the First World War, and Black Friday bushfires destroyed many mine workings in 1939.

By the 1990s, the town had become a popular tourist destination, boosted by Lake Eildon (situated adjacent to the Jamieson township and formed by the damming of the Goulburn River) reaching 100% capacity in 1996. However the tourism industry suffered in the early 2000s following a drought which affected Lake Eildon. The drought has proven to be long term and in March 2007, the capacity of the lake reached a historic low of 7.9%.

Today, Jamieson has a permanent population of around 250. It is a popular destination for four wheel drive enthusiasts, fishers, and amateur gold dredgers. It is close to Lake Eildon and the Mount Buller snowfields. The town has two hotels, a caravan park, and several bed and breakfast establishments.

[edit] 2006/07 Victorian Bushfires

In December 2006, Victoria's North-East was affected by many bushfires that would threaten to all merge into less, but bigger firefronts. Jamieson was one town at the centre of attention during these times, used as a major post for firefighters and media (Free-to-Air, Pay TV and newspaper journalists were based in the town). Luckily for Jamieson, fire breaks helped the Mt Terrible fire stay away from the town centre. However a short distance, both East and South East (Jamieson-Licola and Mansfield-Woods Point Roads) of the town were burnt in the blaze.