Briagolong, Victoria
| Briagolong Victoria | |
|---|---|
  Briagolong | |
| Coordinates | 37°50′S 147°04′E / 37.833°S 147.067°ECoordinates: 37°50′S 147°04′E / 37.833°S 147.067°E |
| Population | 937 (2006 census)[1] |
| Postcode(s) | 3860 |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Wellington |
| State electorate(s) | Gippsland East |
| Federal Division(s) | Gippsland |
Briagolong is a town in the Australian state of Victoria, located 20 kilometres north of Maffra and some 270 kilometres east of Melbourne, in the Shire of Wellington region of Gippsland. At the 2011 census, Briagolong had a population of 1,075.
History
Briagolong Post Office opened on 1 May 1871.[2]
The town's principal industry has been timber, and it supplied red gum paving blocks for Melbourne's streets, and stringybark for the flooring at Australia House in London.
The railway line from Maffra opened in 1889 and was closed in 1952.
Today
Briagolong was the home town of Private Jake Kovco, Australia's first military casualty in the Iraq War. The funeral for Private Kovco was held in the town on 2 May 2006, and was attended by Prime Minister John Howard, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, Defence Force Chief Angus Houston and Army Chief Peter Leahy.
The town in conjunction with neighbouring township Boisdale has an Australian Rules football team Boisdale-Briagolong competing in the East Gippsland Football League.
The town's water supply is taken from the Freestone Creek.
Popular tourist areas nearby are the swimming areas on the Freestone Creek at Quarry Reserve, which is 4.5 km North of the town, and Blue Pool, which is 10 km north of the town, both on the Freestone Creek Road.
Resident Tobias Jordan Leeds once left Briagolong to go play cricket in England. After scoring 800 runs in one season he earned the nickname 'Briagolong Dong'
References
- ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Briagolong (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
- ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 2008-04-11