Tungamah 3728 Tungamah 3728

Tungamah is a rural town north-north-east of Melbourne, approximately 29 km. from Yarrawonga and the Murray River. It is situated on slightly undulating land which is surrounded by almost treeless plains. Tungamah is on the Boosey Creek which has light woodland along it. Lightly wooded country extends south and east of the town.

Tungamah was named after an Aboriginal word thought to mean wild brush turkey. The township was gazetted in 1875, when pastoral runs were being made available for closer settlement. In 1876 a school was opened, and within seven years Tungamah was described as a flourishing village with a post office, three stores and two banks. Situated in Yarrawonga shire, Council meetings had been removed from Yarrawonga to Tungamah. The following year (1884) Tungamah had five stores and five hotels.

In 1886 the railway line connected Tungamah to Benalla and Yarrawonga, and Tungamah's population reached its peak in a few years. The railway, however, enabled local farmers to transfer their spending to the bigger towns, and Tungamah's population began a slow decline.

Tungamah was the administrative centre of the Yarrawonga shire until 1891, when the Yarrawonga portion was made a separate shire. For two years they were called Yarrawonga and North Yarrawonga shires respectively, until Tungamah shire was so named on 17 February, 1893. The shire's farming activity strengthened in its western area around Cobram as irrigation from the Murray River was extended.

On 1 April, 1953, Cobram shire was severed from Tungamah shire.

The slow decline of the township since the turn of the century has resulted in many of the surviving buildings retaining their original outline or appearance. Examples include the three churches on the hill north of the town (Presbyterian 1885, Catholic 1886 and Anglican 1889), former Colonial Bank (1880), Masonic Hall (1890), Phillips and Costigans general stores (1883 and 1889), the hotel (1891), mechanics' institute and court house, the post office and the water tower (1909). A Tungamah Central Area conservation study was done in 1983, but nothing has been placed on a historic buildings register.

A recent building is the new shire offices (1964). A recent building use is the pre-school activity in the former court house. Tungamah also has a recreation reserve, a swimming pool and a bowling green.

In 1994, 97,608 ha. or 85% of the shire's area was farmed. Livestock numbered 153,000 sheep and lambs, 31,000 dairy cattle and 8,600 meat cattle. Cereals were planted on 17,020 ha. and 25,700 tonnes of wheat were harvested.

On 18 November, 1994, most of Tungamah shire was united with Cobram, Nathalia and Numurkah shires and most of Yarrawonga shire to form Moira shire.

Tungamah's census populations were 408 (1891), 376 (1933), 271 (1961) and 305 (1996). The shire's census populations, after severance of Cobram, were 2,446 (1961), 2,802 (1981) and 2,912 (1991).

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