Euroa

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Euroa

Euroa is a town in the Shire of Strathbogie in North-East Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Euroa had a population of 2,776.[1] The name Euroa comes from an Aboriginal word in the old local dialect meaning "joyful".

History

Major T.L. Mitchell camped on the banks of the Sevens Creek at Euroa during his 1836 "Australia Felix" expedition. The Post Office opened on 1 January 1854 as the township was settled.[2]

In 1863, Seven Creeks Hotel and Store was opened in Euroa, soon after the Ovens Gold rush. Euroa's claim to fame is that the bank was robbed by Ned Kelly in 1878. Much of the region's wealth once came from sheep but now it comes from horse studs.

Coaches operated between Melbourne and Beechworth with Euroa as a coaching halt. The operators were Forster and Vinge, then Bevan and Co., Roberston Wagner and Co. Coaches were operated between Melbourne and Euroa, leaving the Albion Hotel in Bourke Street, Melbourne at six o'clock in the morning and arriving in Euroa at midnight. [3]

Flood of 1870

In 1870, there occurred a flood wherein the Seven Creeks were extremely wide in the town. The Seven Creeks Hotel was flooded and the residents had to retire upstairs. Communication was cut off from the town. The bridge at Seven Creeks was partly destroyed, only the beams remaining. It was afterwards rebuilt. The first bridge was built in 1854-1855, and was swept away by an earlier flood. Mr Garrett was a bridge carpenter who worked on rebuilding his bridge and later became Clerk of Works for many of the Public Buildings in Euroa. [4]

Facilities

Euroa is roughly midway between Melbourne and Albury. The area is geographically very flat, as the town is located in the huge Goulburn Valley, however the impressive Strathbogie Ranges are not far away.

Euroa contains several retirement villages, one high school, and two primary schools (one Catholic).

The town is home to the Shire of Strathbogie headquarters. The shire was established as part of the conservative Kennett government mass rationalisation across Victoria in the 1990s. The Shire of Strathbogie incorporates the former Shires of Euroa, Violet Town, and Goulburn.

The main road from Melbourne northward is the Hume Highway. A by-pass was constructed around Euroa about 15 years ago and since then Euroa has been a quiet town with little growth or business potential. It is, however, a popular stop on any long drive along the Hume for purposes of food, fuel, and parks.

The town is located on the main North East railway, and is served by V/Line passenger services from Euroa station.

Library

Euroa has a library which is located in Binney Street.

In 2009, the Shire of Strathbogie was successful in obtaining a Victorian State Government Living Libraries grant to build a new Euroa Library on the Binney Street site.

You may view images of the Demolition of the Euroa Library

Schools

St. John's Primary School

St. John's is Euroa's only Catholic primary school and has served the Euroa community since 1921. The school has an approximate enrolment of 85 students and, from its founding until 2002, the school was run by the Sisters of Mercy[5]. The current principal is Mr. Duncan Arendse[6].

Euroa Primary School

Euroa Primary School (School Number: 1706) is the town's only government-run primary school and has a current enrolment of 214 students[7]. The current principal is Mr. Anthony Fahey[8].

Euroa Secondary College

Euroa Secondary College (School Number: 7820) is the only secondary school in the Shire of Strathbogie and, in 2007, had an enrolment of 371 students. These students come from the surrounding area including Nagambie, Avenel, Longwood, Ruffy and Violet Town[9]. The school offers a wide range of subjects to all students from Year 7 to those doing their VCE in Year 12 and offers Japanese as a LOTE subject. The college also offers many other opportunities to its students including a very successful music programme, and students are offered to opportunity to participate in a wide range of sports, many of these students achieving success and going on to GSSSA and VSSSA level. The school is currently undergoing building works which includes the construction of a new Science/Technology centre and a senior study centre as well as the relocation of the school's fully equipped library. The current principal is Mr. Michael Bell[10].

Sport

The town has an Australian Rules football team the "Euroa Magpies" competing in the Goulburn Valley Football League.[11] Golfers play at the course of the Euroa Golf Club on Walters Road.[12]

Notable people

The Euroa district holds the rare honour of being the home of three Victoria Cross recipients, two from Gallipoli and one from the Boer War, which was understood to be a record for a provincial town.[13]

References

  1. ↑ 2006 Census QuickStats : Euroa(Urban Centre/Locality), retrieved 2009-01-25
  2. ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 2008-04-11
  3. ↑ Deboos, C.L, in A Brief History of the Early Days of Euroa, Back to Euroa 1934 Centenary Celebrations, no pagination
  4. ↑ Deboos, C.L, in A Brief History of the Early Days of Euroa, Back to Euroa 1934 Centenary Celebrations, no pagination
  5. ↑ St John's Primary School, Euroa
  6. ↑ St John's Primary School, Euroa
  7. ↑ Schools Online
  8. ↑ Schools Online
  9. ↑ Euroa Secondary College
  10. ↑ Euroa Secondary College
  11. ↑ Full Points Footy, Euroa, retrieved 2008-07-25
  12. ↑ Golf Select, Euroa, retrieved 2009-05-11
  13. ↑ Euroa, Australian Places

Retrieved from "http://wiki.gvrlc.vic.gov.au/index.php/Euroa"

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