| Myrtleford Victoria |
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Myrtleford |
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Myrtleford
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| Population: | 3,187(2006)[1] | ||||||
| Postcode: | 3737 | ||||||
| Elevation: | 223 m (732 ft) | ||||||
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Alpine Shire | ||||||
| State District: | Benalla | ||||||
| Federal Division: | Indi | ||||||
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Myrtleford is a town in north-east Victoria, Australia, 45 km south-east of Wangaratta and 275 km north-east of Melbourne. Myrtleford is part of the Alpine Shire local government area and at the 2006 census the town had a population of 3,187.
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Aboriginal people inhabited the Alpine Valleys and high country for thousands of years prior to European settlement, and knew its flora, fauna, geography and seasonal changes intimately. Groups visited the Alps in summer to hold ceremonies and gather the nutritious Bogong moths that shelter there. European settlement began in the early 19th century and from 1837, the township of Myrtleford was a remote cattle run known as the Myrtle Creek Run. Forming the boundary of the runs, Myrtle Creek was given its name by the first Europeans in the area. When gold was discovered in the Buckland Valley, thousands of diggers had to cross Myrtle Creek on their way to the goldfields. A small township developed around the fording place, with the name of Myrtleford consequently adopted. The road through Myrtleford was then called the Buckland Road; today it is known as the Great Alpine Road. The Post Office opened on 26 July 1858 as Myrtle Creek and was renamed Myrtleford in 1871.[2]
Myrtleford is the largest town in the Alpine Shire and is an important commercial centre in the Ovens and Buffalo River Valley. Agriculture and timber are important industries in the area. Carter Holt Harvey manufacture timber products in Myrtleford. Tobacco was for many years a major crop in the area until the industry closed down in 2006. Farming is an important industry; wine grapes, walnuts and chestnuts, blueberries and raspberries, cherries, apples, kiwifruit, olives, vegetables, hops, beef and dairy cattle are all prevalent farming pursuits in the Myrtleford region. January maximum temperatures average 31.9ºC and minimums 14.1ºC with an average of 39.6mm of rainfall. July maximum temperatures average 12.9ºC and minimums 2.4ºC with an average of 66.9mm of rainfall.
Myrtleford has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Ovens & Murray Football League.[3]
Guy Rigoni, Australian Rules Footballer Albi Rodda, Australian Rules Footballer Dave Matheson, Musician, Actor, Comedian Gary Abblet Snr., Australian Rules Footballer Malcolm Milne, Olympic Skier Ross Milne, Olympic Skier
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