Myrtleford
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Myrtleford Victoria |
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Myrtleford
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 Myrtleford
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| Coordinates | 36°33′0″S 146°43′0″E / 36.55000°S 146.71667°ECoordinates: 36°33′0″S 146°43′0″E / 36.55000°S 146.71667°E | ||||||
| Population | 3,181 (2011 census) | ||||||
| Established | 1858 | ||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3737 | ||||||
| Elevation | 223 m (732 ft) | ||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Alpine Shire | ||||||
| State electorate(s) | Ovens Valley | ||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Indi | ||||||
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Myrtleford is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the northeast of the state, 274 km northeast of Melbourne and 46 km southeast of Wangaratta. Myrtleford is part of the Alpine Shire local government area and at the 2011 census the town had a population of 3,181.
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 Myrtleford was a remote cattle run known as Myrtle Creek. Myrtle Creek, today known as the Barwidgee Creek, formed the boundary of the run and 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 at this fording place, with the name Myrtleford consequently adopted.
The post office opened on 26 July 1858 as Myrtle Creek and was renamed Myrtleford in 1871. The road through Myrtleford was then called the Buckland Road, today it is known as the Great Alpine Road.
Myrtleford is located in the Ovens Valley and is the largest town in the Alpine Shire. Agriculture, timber and tourism are important industries. Tobacco growing was Myrtleford and the surrounding area's major industry for many years, forming the backbone of Myrtleford's economy until the industry was closed down in 2006. Today wine grapes, hops, walnuts and chestnuts, blueberries and raspberries, cherries, apples, kiwifruit, olives, vegetables, beef and dairy cattle are all farmed in the region. Carter Holt Harvey manufacture timber products at Myrtleford. Tourism in the local area also contributes to Myrtleford's economy.
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