Tallong, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids TallongNew South Wales |
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Tallong Railway Station, which opened in 1869
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 Tallong
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 914 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2579 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 620 m (2,034 ft) | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Goulburn-Mulwaree Council | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Southern Tablelands, Southern Highlands | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Goulburn | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Hume | ||||||||||||||
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Tallong is a small village in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located east of the Great Dividing Range. The land where Tallong sits traditionally belongs to the Gundungurra people. In 2021, about 914 people lived in Tallong. The village is part of the Goulburn-Mulwaree Council. It is about 8.5 kilometers from Marulan and 25 kilometers from Bundanoon.
The main activities in Tallong include stud farms (places where animals like horses are bred), arts and crafts, and services for local farms.
Tallong is also home to a special tiny flower called the Tallong Midge Orchid (Genoplesium plumosum). This orchid was discovered in 1997 and is only found in this area. It is now a protected species, meaning it is kept safe from harm.
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What's in a Name?
The area was first called Barber's Creek. This name came from the creek that flows through the town. Later, in the early 1900s, the town's name was changed to "Tallong." This new name comes from an Aboriginal word. It can mean either "tongue" or "spring of water."
Tallong's Past
Early European Settlers
The first European to settle in this area was George Barber. He was a cattle farmer. In 1814, he set up a cattle station along the creek that later got his name, Barber's Creek. By 1821, he owned a large piece of land in the Tallong-Marulan area. He called his land "Glenrock."
Later, some of Barber's land was sold to a man named Billy Blue. Convicts (people sent to Australia as punishment) were used to clear the land. They also helped prepare a path for the Main South railway line. Tallong was chosen as a place for trains to refuel. So, the first people living in Tallong were convicts, woodcutters, railway workers, and their families.
When the railway opened in 1869, more things came to Tallong. Shops, a school, hotels, and a post office were built.
After Federation: A Growing Town
By 1900, cattle farming started to become less important. Instead, fruit farming became very popular, especially apples and pears. Tallong was known for its amazing fruit! The village would even send a tall display of fruit to the annual Sydney Royal Easter Show. Tallong's apples and pears won top awards many times in the early 1900s.
In 1920, the population of Tallong reached 200 people. A special building called the Memorial Hall was built. It was made to celebrate the town's growth and to remember the local people who served in World War I. This Hall and the war memorial are still standing today.
Sadly, in 1955, the Australian writer Seaforth Mackenzie drowned in Barber's Creek near the town.
Tallong faced a big challenge in 1965 when it was badly damaged by the Chatsbury bushfire. The town's economy, especially the fruit industry, never fully recovered. Many people moved away, and the post office and some small businesses closed down.
Historic Places
Tallong has some sites that are listed as important heritage places. One of these is the Tallong railway station, which is part of the Main Southern railway line.
Fun Things to See and Do
Tallong is home to one of Australia's oldest surviving single-teacher schoolhouses, located at Tallong Public School. It also has a country campus for Santa Sabina College.
You can also visit two amazing lookouts in Tallong: Badgerys Lookout and Longpoint Lookout. These lookouts are on a high plateau and offer incredible views over the Shoalhaven Gorge and Morton National Park. The gorge is about 1500 feet deep and looks down to the Shoalhaven River.
Tallong is famous for its "big apple" landmark. It also used to host an award-winning "Apple Day" festival every year, celebrating its fruit-growing history. However, the festival was cancelled for 2024.
There is also an annual Tallong Trail Ride. This event helps support the Rural Fire Service, which protects the area from bushfires.
