Legana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LeganaTasmania |
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View of Legana from Bridgenorth Road
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 Legana
Location in Tasmania
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| Population | 4,029 (2016) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 7277 | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | AEDT (UTC+11) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | West Tamar | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Launceston | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Bass | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Bass | ||||||||||||||
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Legana is a rural and residential locality in the local government area (LGA) of West Tamar in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 32 kilometres (20 mi) south-east of the town of Beaconsfield. The 2016 census has a population of 4029 for the state suburb of Legana. It is 12 kilometres north of Tasmania's second largest city, Launceston. It is adjacent to Riverside, Bridgenorth, Grindelwald and Rosevears.
The name "Legana" is based on the Palawa word for "fresh water" since it is at the point where the Tamar River becomes fresh water. There is currently a homestead called "Freshwater" which was adjacent to a private jetty where early settlers traded with the local natives. This homestead, in Nobelius Drive, now operates as a Bed and Breakfast accommodation house.
Legana is also the name of a comparatively little-known and rare apple variety bred at Legana. Leganas are a cross between Tasma and Delicious. They are bright red apples, with a shape similar to Delicious with a smooth crown and the colour of a Tasma. Leganas have been described as a very good eating apple, sweet and nutty with dense, crisp, juicy white to yellow flesh.
History
Legana was originally a rural town made up of dairy farms, apple orchards, and cattle grazing. Most of the residences were originally located near the Tamar River with housing developments built nearer to the West Tamar Highway. Legana was also originally called Legana Estate.
Legana Post Office opened on 1 April 1910.
Community
Like most smaller rural townships, sporting clubs play an important part of the social life of Legana. Most of the community facilities are located within a community precinct which accommodates the Legana Cricket Club who compete in the TCL cricket competition running two teams, an A grade team and a social B grade side, the Legana Tennis Club, and children's community playground, near the playground the council are planning to build a bicycle dirt jump park for the local youths to ride their bikes on. The memorial hall is near to this precinct.
A shopping centre has been built on the other side of this community precinct which provides the community with a supermarket and number of speciality shops. The shopping centre has had an upgrade and has been extended from the side and the back. Recently the area has had more developments in that businesses have decided to take advantage of this growing community: Legana now has a Post Office and a Newsagent with Tatts Lotto, Chemist, Butcher, Baker, Fruit Shop, Hair Dresser, KFC, Legana Tavern, BWS Bottle Shop, Legana Medical Centre, Launceston Holiday Park Caravan Park, Lawson Homes, Legana Pizza, Legana Bakery, Legana Plants Plus Nursey, Legana Hair & Beauty Salon, Legana Grove Green Grocer, Florist, R&R Caravan Centre, Reject Shop, Scotts Motorcycle Spares, Liberty Service Station, Newman Automotive, Velo Vineyard, Salvation Army, St John's Foot Clinic, Tyres and More, Eyelines Glasses & Frames & Repairs, Harcourt's Real Estate, Woolworths, Woolworth's Petrol Plus, 2 ATM'S at Woolworths as well as other new shops.
An enthusiastic group of locals produce a periodical newsletter outlining local events and other items of interest. This is delivered free of charge directly to household letterboxes.
A Fire Station, Legana Fire Brigade consists of a group of enthusiastic volunteers who provide the community with a fire protection service equipped to respond to both structure and vegetation fires, car accidents, fire alarms. Legana Brigade was formed soon after the devastating 1967 bushfires in Tasmania. Legana Fire Brigade's first piece of equipment was a tanker trailer, purchased by the then Beaconsfield Council under a Rural Fires Board subsidy scheme, and housed at the Brigade Captain's property. At about this time the Legana area began to change from an agricultural base community to one of a rural residential nature with a sub-division at Freshwater Point. As a result, the Council provided a four-wheel drive medium tanker which again was housed at the Brigade Captain's As Legana' s population grew the existing members felt that the Fire Commission should provide a more suitable shed which was built in the early 80's. The members went further however and after much hard work, fund-raising and lobbying they were able to ensure that a meeting room and office were incorporated into the new station that was finally opened in 1985. The station was located on the old Freshwater Point Road but the developments of Grindelwald, Rosevears Danbury Park and the general expansion of Legana itself lead to plans being discussed in 1996 for a larger replacement station in a more central location.
Road infrastructure
The West Tamar Highway (Route A7) passes through from south-east to north-west. Route C732 (Bridgenorth Road) starts at an intersection with A7 and runs west until it exits. Route C733 (Rosevears Drive) starts at an intersection with A7 and runs north until it exits.
