Tarcutta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tarcutta New South Wales
National Truck Driver Memorial at Tarcutta
Tarcutta Location in New South Wales
Population	446 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	2652
Elevation	233 m (764 ft)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	438 km (272 mi) SW of Sydney 456 km (283 mi) NE of Melbourne 45 km (28 mi) E of Wagga Wagga 49 km (30 mi) SW of Gundagai 132 km (82 mi) NE of Albury
LGA(s)	City of Wagga Wagga
County	Wynyard
State electorate(s)	Wagga Wagga
Federal Division(s)	Riverina
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall  ? ? 663.9 mm 26.1 in
Localities around Tarcutta: Ladysmith Mundarlo Tumblong Tarcutta Adelong Kyeamba

Tarcutta is a small town in south-western New South Wales, Australia. It is about 438 kilometres (272 miles) south-west of Sydney. The town was officially made a village on October 28, 1890. In 2016, about 446 people lived there.

Tarcutta is important for two main reasons. First, it supports local farms that raise sheep and cattle. Second, it is a popular stop for truckies. These drivers travel long distances between the big cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Tarcutta is a good halfway point for them to rest or change over.

Exploring Tarcutta's Past

Early European Visits and Settlement

The Tarcutta area was first explored by Europeans in 1825. Explorers Hume and Hovell passed through on their way from Sydney to Port Phillip. They met a group of Wiradjuri Aboriginal people near where Tarcutta is today.

Around 1835–1837, the first inn and post office was built in Tarcutta. It was called "Hambledon" and was a U-shaped house made of wooden slabs. The Tarcutta Post Office officially opened on January 1, 1849.

One of the first settlers was Thomas Hodges Mate. He was Tarcutta's first innkeeper and also its first postmaster. His daughter, Annie, said that 'tarcutta' was a Wiradjuri word. It meant 'a food made by grinding grass seed'.

People also tried to find gold in the Tarcutta area. However, they did not find much.

Railways and Roads in Tarcutta

In the 1880s, people in Tarcutta wanted a railway line. They wanted it to connect Wagga Wagga to Tumbarumba, passing through Tarcutta. The Tumbarumba railway line was finally built in 1917.

However, a part of the line was badly damaged by floods in 1974. The rest of the railway line closed in 1987.

More recently, a new road called the Tarcutta bypass was built. This bypass helps traffic on the Hume Highway go around the village. It opened on November 15, 2011.

Tarcutta and the Trucking World

A Key Stop for Truck Drivers

Tarcutta is located right in the middle of the journey between Sydney and Melbourne on the Hume Highway. Because of this, it has always been a very popular place for the trucking industry. Drivers often stop here to rest or to change trucks.

Remembering Truck Drivers

In the local park, there is a special place called the National Truck Drivers' Memorial. This memorial honours truck drivers who have died. Many have died on the Hume Highway, and others across Australia. The famous country singer, Slim Dusty, even supported the memorial. A special event is held there every October.

The local café in Tarcutta has served many generations of truck drivers. It has also inspired some famous Australian poets. Les Murray wrote a poem called "The Burning Truck" after visiting the café in 1961. Another poet, Bruce Dawe, mentioned the café in his poem "Under Way." He wrote: 'there would be days / banging open and shut like the wire door of the cafe in Tarcutta / where the flies sang at the windows'.

For many years, there was a lot of discussion about where to build a new truck changeover facility in Tarcutta. This facility would allow truck drivers to stop and rest. It was finally built off the main street and finished in 2007. It cost $6.5 million. Truck drivers must stop for 30 minutes every five hours to rest.

Historic Places in Tarcutta

Tarcutta has some important historical sites. One of them is:

• Tarcutta Street: Hambledon Homestead

Other Interesting Facts About Tarcutta

Famous People from Tarcutta

Tarcutta is the birthplace of Tony Roche, a famous tennis player. He was a left-handed player who won 12 Grand Slam men's doubles tournaments. He also had a successful singles career.

Protecting Nature in Tarcutta

Near Tarcutta, there is a special place called the Tarcutta Hills Reserve. This reserve is 432 hectares (1,067 acres) big. It is owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia. This reserve protects an important area of white box woodland. It is a safe home for animals like the squirrel glider and endangered birds like the swift parrot. About 11 other threatened wildlife species also live there. This site is listed on the Register of the National Estate.

Sporting Achievements

In 1969, the Tarcutta Rugby League team had a great year. They became the champions of the Group 13 Rugby League. They also won the Clayton Cup for being the best team in country New South Wales that year.

Tarcutta's Climate

Original truckie memorial at site of current memorial.