Rutherglen, Victoria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RutherglenVictoria |
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The heritage listed Victoria Hotel in Main Street
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 Rutherglen
Location in Shire of Indigo
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| Population | 2,579 (2021 census) | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3685 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 175 m (574 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Indigo | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Benambra | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Indi | ||||||||
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Rutherglen is a town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. It is close to the Murray River, which forms the border with New South Wales. The town got its name from a Scottish town also called Rutherglen, which is near Glasgow. In 2021, about 2,579 people lived in Rutherglen.
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What Makes Rutherglen Special?
Rutherglen is located north of Wangaratta and west of Wodonga. It's only 10 kilometres from the Murray River, near the towns of Wahgunyah and Corowa.
Long ago, in the mid-1800s, Rutherglen was a town where people searched for gold. After the gold rush, it became a very important area for making wine. Today, there are 17 wineries close to the town centre.
The main street of Rutherglen still looks much like it did a hundred years ago. This gives it a special historical feel. You can visit Lake King, which is surrounded by Apex Park and Rutherglen Park. There's also a cool water tower in Campbell Street that looks like a giant wine bottle!
A Look Back at Rutherglen's Past
The Rutherglen Post Office first opened its doors on November 1, 1860. A local newspaper, Rutherglen Sun and Chiltern Valley Advertiser, was published in the town for many years, from 1886 to 1979. The Rutherglen Magistrates' Court, where legal cases were heard, closed on January 1, 1990.
Rutherglen's Famous Wines
The Rutherglen wine region is an area around the town famous for making wine. It's especially known for its sweet, strong wines. These include Muscat, Topaque (which used to be called Tokay), and Port.
The biggest winery in the area is All Saints Winery. It was started in 1864 and is just a short drive from Wahgunyah. It has beautiful gardens, ponds, a restaurant, and places where you can taste wine. The Rutherglen Wine Experience Visitor Information Centre in the town centre teaches you about the town's history and how wine is made. It also gives helpful information for tourists.
Sports and Fun in Rutherglen
Rutherglen is a small town, but it has two Australian Rules football teams! One team, Corowa-Rutherglen, plays in the Ovens & Murray Football League. This team is shared with the nearby town of Corowa. The other team, Rutherglen Football Club, plays in the Tallangatta & District Football League.
If you like golf, you can play at the Rutherglen Golf Club on Murray Street.
Rutherglen's Weather
Rutherglen has a climate that is a mix of oceanic and humid subtropical weather. This means it has warm to hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Weather information has been collected at Rutherglen Research since 1912. The town is about 175 metres above sea level.
The hottest temperature ever recorded was 46.8°C on January 14, 1939. The coldest was -7.5°C on June 14, 2006.
| Climate data for Rutherglen Research (1912–2022); 175 m AMSL; 36.10° S, 146.51° E | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 46.8 (116.2) |
45.6 (114.1) |
40.2 (104.4) |
35.5 (95.9) |
28.7 (83.7) |
22.2 (72.0) |
22.5 (72.5) |
24.9 (76.8) |
32.2 (90.0) |
38.9 (102.0) |
41.8 (107.2) |
45.6 (114.1) |
46.8 (116.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.5 (88.7) |
30.8 (87.4) |
27.4 (81.3) |
22.0 (71.6) |
17.0 (62.6) |
13.4 (56.1) |
12.5 (54.5) |
14.1 (57.4) |
17.2 (63.0) |
21.0 (69.8) |
25.4 (77.7) |
29.3 (84.7) |
21.8 (71.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.8 (56.8) |
13.9 (57.0) |
11.0 (51.8) |
7.1 (44.8) |
4.3 (39.7) |
2.5 (36.5) |
2.0 (35.6) |
2.7 (36.9) |
4.1 (39.4) |
6.2 (43.2) |
8.7 (47.7) |
11.5 (52.7) |
7.3 (45.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 1.9 (35.4) |
1.2 (34.2) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−5.3 (22.5) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 38.8 (1.53) |
37.2 (1.46) |
39.2 (1.54) |
40.2 (1.58) |
51.5 (2.03) |
56.5 (2.22) |
60.2 (2.37) |
60.2 (2.37) |
54.1 (2.13) |
58.0 (2.28) |
46.4 (1.83) |
44.1 (1.74) |
586.4 (23.09) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 5.3 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 6.8 | 9.9 | 12.6 | 14.4 | 14.0 | 10.9 | 9.8 | 7.7 | 6.3 | 107.9 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 27 | 31 | 34 | 43 | 57 | 67 | 68 | 61 | 57 | 48 | 38 | 30 | 47 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 313.1 | 282.5 | 272.8 | 228.0 | 161.2 | 120.0 | 127.1 | 173.6 | 207.0 | 260.4 | 276.0 | 288.3 | 2,710 |
Famous People from Rutherglen
Some notable people have connections to Rutherglen:
- George Sutherland Smith (1830–1903) was a captain of paddle-steamers and started the All Saints winery.
- Sir John Harris (1868–1946) was a politician who helped make sherry popular.
- Michael Joseph Savage (1872–1940) became the Prime Minister of New Zealand. He lived in North Prentice for a time.
- Erle Cox (1873–1950) was a well-known author.
- Robert Campbell (born 1982) is a former Australian rules football player for the Hawthorn team.
Fun Events and Festivals
Rutherglen hosts many exciting events throughout the year:
- Rutherglen Regatta: Held on the second weekend of January.
- Tastes of Rutherglen: Takes place from the second to the third weekend of March.
- Winery Walkabout: Happens on the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June.
- Rutherglen Agricultural Show: Held on the third weekend of October.
- Tour de Rutherglen: On the first weekend of November.
- Rutherglen Farmers Market: You can find this market on the second weekend of each month.
