Trentham, Victoria

Trentham Victoria
Falls Road
Trentham
Coordinates	37°23′0″S 144°19′0″E / 37.38333°S 144.31667°E / -37.38333; 144.31667Coordinates: 37°23′0″S 144°19′0″E / 37.38333°S 144.31667°E / -37.38333; 144.31667
Population	629 (2006)[1]
Postcode(s)	3458
Elevation	700 m (2,297 ft)
Location	87 km (54 mi) north west of Melbourne 69 km (43 mi) north east of Ballarat 24 km (15 mi) east of Daylesford 22 km (14 mi) south west of Kyneton
LGA(s)	Shire of Hepburn Shire of Moorabool
State electorate(s)	Ballarat East
Federal Division(s)	Ballarat
Localities around Trentham: Lyonville Spring Hill Spring Hill Bullarto Trentham Woodend Korweinguboora Greendale Darley

Trentham is a small town in the Shire of Hepburn and Shire of Moorabool local government area, Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Trentham had a population of 629.^[1] Located at an altitude of 700 metres (2,297 ft), the town is 97 kilometres (60 mi) north-west of Melbourne.

History

Although pastoral runs were taken up in the area as early as 1838, Trentham was first settled by gold prospectors in the 1850s, and later developed for its timber resources from the surrounding Wombat State Forest. The Post Office opened on 16 July 1862.^[2]

A railway line arrived in 1880.^[3] At its peak carried up to 21,000 tonnes of freight (mostly timber) annually. The station once had a timber tramway which transported timber to the Goods Platform. In the 1950s, however, the railway declined as better roads were built to connect the town with the major settlements of Victoria, and it was closed during the 1970s. The station is now the Trentham Agricultural and Railway Museum, with the restored station building, the mainly intact yard with some rolling stock, and a platform in good condition.

Potato growing (due to a fertile strip of red volcanic soil), grazing and tourism later became the mainstays of the town's economy.

Climate

The climate is cool and moist: the mean summer temperature is 21.9 °C, nights fall to around 9.8 °C in February (summer); whilst winters are distinctly cold with the mean daytime temperature 7.6°C (July) and mean night temperature 2.1 °C. The coldest temperature recorded was minus 8 °C with many nights in winter reaching minus 5 °C. Snow falls are not uncommon in winter - sleet and snow can fall on up to 13 days per year. Trentham has an average annual precipitation of 1,102.3 mm (43.4 in), the highest one day rainfall was 154.9 mm and the highest monthly rainfall was 317.5 mm. The region has a distinct winter rainfall maximum. Rainfall occurs through the summer but tends to be more erratic and unreliable, often occurring in heavy downpours associated with thunderstorms.

Events and attractions

Near Trentham is Trentham Falls on the Coliban River - the highest single-drop waterfall in Victoria.^{[citation needed]} There are also several mineral 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.^{[citation needed]} Because many of the first settlers were Irish, St. Patrick's day is a major community event here.^{[citation needed]}

The town has an Australian Rules football team, the Trentham SAINTS competing in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League. The Saints website can be accessed at: http://trenthamsaints.org

Golfers play at the course of the Trentham Golf Club on Falls Road.^[4]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trentham, Victoria.