Howlong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids HowlongNew South Wales |
|
|---|---|
The main street of Howlong
|
|
 Howlong
Location in New South Wales
|
|
| Population | 2,997 (2021 census Census) |
| Established | 1854 |
| Postcode(s) | 2643 |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Federation Council |
| County | Hume |
| State electorate(s) | Albury |
| Federal Division(s) | Farrer |
Howlong is a town in New South Wales, Australia. It's about 28 kilometers (17 miles) west of Albury. The town sits right on the Murray River, which is the border between New South Wales and Victoria. You can find Howlong on the Riverina Highway, and there's a bridge across the Murray River connecting it to Victoria. Howlong is part of the Federation Council local government area. In 2021, about 2,997 people lived there.
Contents
Howlong's Past: A Journey Through Time
Early Explorers and Settlers
Before Howlong became a town, a famous explorer named Major Thomas Mitchell crossed the Murray River here. This happened during his explorations in 1836. There's even a monument on the Victorian side of the river. It says Mitchell and his group camped there on October 17, 1836. They crossed the river the next day, a little further downstream.
Just two years later, in 1838, Joseph Hawdon and Charles Bonney made history. They started one of Australia's longest cattle drives from Howlong to Adelaide, South Australia. They moved 300 cattle! Hawdon wrote in his diary that the banks of the Murray River near Howlong were great for grazing animals. He also mentioned a large plain, nine miles wide, which local Aboriginal people called 'oolong'.
The Town's Beginnings
The place where Mitchell crossed the river also became important for mail delivery. In 1838, John Conway Bourke delivered the first overland mail from Sydney to what would later be called Melbourne.
The town of Howlong got its name from a property called Hoolong. This property was owned by Isaac Rudd. The name 'Hoolong' comes from an Aboriginal word meaning 'beginning of the plains'. The town of Howlong was officially planned and laid out in 1854. The Post Office opened on January 1, 1861.
Howlong Today: A Look at Modern Life
Howlong is now an important town in the region. It provides many services for smaller nearby villages. You can find stores that meet most of the daily needs for people living in the area. Some of the villages close to Howlong include Brocklesby, Walbundrie, and Chiltern.
Sports and Fun in Howlong
Howlong is a great place for sports! The local sporting clubs include the Howlong Football Club. This is an Australian rules football team that started way back in 1897. They have played in the Hume Football League since 1953. Before that, they competed in the Chiltern & District Football Association and the Ovens and Murray Football League.
Howlong is also home to the Howlong Golf Resort. This resort is known for having the biggest membership of any golf club in Australia. It has won several awards, including the Jack Newton Junior Golf Club Of The Year in 2011. The resort also hosts popular golf events like the Top of the Murray and Murray Masters Tournaments.
Did you know Howlong is even famous in music? The town is mentioned in the song "By the time I get to Howlong" from Spiderbait's album Grand Slam.
Gallery
-
Entering Howlong
-
Mechanics Institute
-
Old Post Office
-
War Memorial
-
Murray River, Howlong
