Korumburra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids KorumburraVictoria |
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Commercial Street
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 Korumburra
Location in South Gippsland Shire
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| Population | 3,639 (2016 census) | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3950 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 225 m (738 ft) | ||||||||
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| LGA(s) | South Gippsland Shire | ||||||||
| County | Buln Buln | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gippsland South | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Monash | ||||||||
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Korumburra (say it: kur-um-BURR-uh) is a town in the Australian state of Victoria. It is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) south-east of Melbourne. The town is part of the South Gippsland Shire area. In 2016, Korumburra had about 3,639 people living there.
The town is surrounded by green, rolling hills. It sits about 227 meters (745 feet) above sea level. The coast at Inverloch is only about 28 kilometers (17 miles) away.
Contents
History of Korumburra
The first Post Office in the Korumburra area opened on September 1, 1884. It later moved to the main town on November 1, 1889. The railway reached Korumburra in 1891. The railway station, which is now a heritage site, was built in 1908.
Korumburra grew quickly because of its coal mines. From 1893 to 1962, the Korumburra coalfields produced 2 million tonnes of coal!
Many European migrants also moved to the town. They helped Korumburra grow and added to its culture. Antonio Radovick was a very successful Croatian pioneer. He helped start and grow the town in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He built the town's first hotel in 1889. There is even a street named after him.
Sometimes, people spell the town's name incorrectly as "Kurrumburra." This spelling appeared many times in World War Two records.
Korumburra Today
Korumburra is known as the "Heritage Centre of South Gippsland." It is home to the Coal Creek Community Park and Museum. This museum shows what life was like in the area from the 1870s to the 1920s. This was when the town grew fast after coal was found.
Coal Creek Community Park and Museum
The outdoor museum covers 27 hectares (67 acres) of bushland. It has 53 different exhibits. These include:
- The Giant Earthworm exhibit
- An old National Bank building
- An Anzac exhibit
- Mining exhibits
- A Dairy exhibit at the Boston Carriageworks
- A Railway Museum
On weekends, a tram runs around the lower part of the park. It goes past an old-time farm and a bush oval. Many local groups use the park, and special events happen there all year.
Other Attractions and Industries
Other fun places in Korumburra include:
- An Olympic swimming pool (open from November to March)
- A two-court basketball stadium
- An art gallery
The town's main industries are dairy and beef farming. The region is also famous for being home to the world's largest earthworms. Korumburra is also where Burra Foods, a dairy company, is located.
Sports in Korumburra
The town has an Australian Rules football team. They play in the West Gippsland Football League with the nearby town of Bena.
Korumburra also has a soccer team called the Korumburra City Soccer Club. They play in the South Gippsland Soccer League.
Golfers can play at the Korumburra Golf Club. In the winter of 2005, it snowed in Korumburra for the first time in almost twenty years! People even went skiing on the golf course.
Future Growth
Korumburra is growing! Large areas of old farmland are being turned into new housing estates. This will make the town much bigger and increase its population by 75 to 100 percent in the next ten years.
Transport in Korumburra
Korumburra used to be on the South Gippsland railway track. The train service stopped in the mid-1990s. Now, a bus service runs between Melbourne and Yarram.
Local councils and groups are working to bring the train services back. The old railway line beyond Leongatha is now a rail trail. People can use it for walking and cycling.
Earthquakes in Korumburra
Korumburra has experienced some earthquakes.
- On March 6, 2009, an earthquake with a strength of 4.7 was recorded near the town.
- Two weeks later, on March 18, 2009, another 4.7 earthquake happened.
- No damage was reported from these quakes.
By April 2, 2009, fifteen earthquakes and aftershocks had been recorded around Korumburra that year.
On July 5, 2011, a 4.4 earthquake happened with its center in Korumburra. Many people in Melbourne felt this one too.
Environmental Issues
Wastewater Concerns
In early 2021, the local water plant started releasing treated wastewater into Foster Creek. This happened because the plant was processing more water than it was designed for. This release caused an increase in smells around the area.
Notable People from Korumburra
Many interesting people have come from Korumburra, including:
- Francis Masson (Frank) Bladin: A famous airman in World War II.
- Bruce Hungerford: A talented pianist.
- Ken Lay: A former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police.
- William Langham Proud: An architect who helped start the Apex Clubs of Australia.
- Lieutenant General Sir Stanley George Savige: A distinguished soldier in World War I and World War II, and the founder of Legacy.
- Jill Singer: A journalist and television presenter.
- Captain Boomerang (George "Digger" Harkness): A fictional super-villain from DC comics.
- Ron Strykert: A co-founder, lead guitarist, and songwriter for the band Men At Work.
