Tocumwal, New South Wales
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| Tocumwal New South Wales |
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 The Big Murray Cod on the Tocumwal foreshore |
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| Population: | 1,527 (2001 census) | ||||||
| Postcode: | 2714 | ||||||
| Elevation: | 126 m (413 ft) | ||||||
| Location: | 270 km (168 mi) from Melbourne | ||||||
| LGA: | Berrigan Shire Council | ||||||
| County: | Denison | ||||||
| State District: | Murray-Darling | ||||||
| Federal Division: | Farrer | ||||||
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Tocumwal is a town in the southern Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia in the Berrigan Shire Local Government Area, near the Victorian border. The town is situated on the banks of the Murray River, 270 kilometres north of the city of Melbourne. At the 2001 census the population of Tocumwal was 1,527.[1] The Newell Highway, part of the main road route between Brisbane and Melbourne commences at Tocumwal.
The town is said to be named for the local Aboriginal word for "deep hole in the river"[2]
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[edit] History
Prior to European settlement, the Tocumwal area was inhabited by the Ulupna and Bangarang Aborigines. The first pastoral runs were established in the 1840s. The town was established in the early 1860s and recognised as a village in 1872. Prior to Federation, Tocumwal was an important customs point for goods crossing between the then colonies of Victoria and New South Wales.[3]
A standard gauge branch line from the New South Wales Government Railways Main Southern railway line at Junee reached Narrandera in 1881 and a branch from Narrandera was completed to Tocumwal in 1898.[4] The broad gauge Victorian Railways Melbourne-Shepparton railway line was extended to Tocumwal in 1908, creating a break-of-gauge at Tocumwal until the New South Wales Government Railways line was closed south of Narrandera (about 1980).
During the Second World War the town was the site of Royal Australian Air Force Station Tocumwal, which was a major Royal Australian Air Force training airfield and aircraft depot. Today, the airfield is a renowned gliding site.[citation needed]
Because of the break-of-gauge between the railways north and south of Tocumwal, this station was a natural choice for military oriented storage facilities and munitions dumps.[citation needed]
[edit] Facilities
Tocumwal has one State and one Catholic primary school. The nearest High School is in Finley 21 kilometres to the north.
Australian rules football, Cricket and Netball are all very popular in the town. Notable sporting teams include the Tocumwal Football Club (The Bloods) who compete in the Murray Football League
Tocumwal is in the federal Division of Farrer and the state Electoral district of Murray-Darling.
Tocumwal was also where the largest Murray cod in the world was caught.[citation needed]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). Tocumwal (Urban Centre/Locality). 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved on 2007-06-30.
- ^ GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES REGISTER EXTRACT - Tocumwal. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.
- ^ Travel - Tocumwal. Sydney Moring Herald. Retrieved on [[2007-02-18]].
- ^ Tocumwal Branch. www.nswrail.net. Retrieved on 2007-02-01.
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