Tocumwal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids TocumwalNew South Wales |
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The levee and foreshore park at Tocumwal
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 Tocumwal
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 2,682 (2016 census) | ||||||||
| • Density | 5,000/km2 (13,000/sq mi) | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2714 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 126 m (413 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | 270 km (168 mi) from Melbourne | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | Berrigan Shire | ||||||||
| County | Denison | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Murray | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Farrer | ||||||||
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Tocumwal is a town in Australia. It is located in the southern part of the Riverina region in New South Wales. The town is part of the Berrigan Shire local government area.
Tocumwal sits on the northern bank of the Murray River. This river forms the border between New South Wales and Victoria. The town is about 270 kilometers (168 miles) north of the city of Melbourne.
Two important highways, the Newell Highway and the Murray Valley Highway, meet here. They are part of the main road route, the National Highway, which connects Brisbane and Melbourne. In 2016, Tocumwal had a population of 2,682 people.
The name "Tocumwal" likely comes from an old local word. The Pangerang Indigenous people used the word "Tucumiva" or "Tucumival." It means "deep hole." Near Tocumwal, there is a 25-meter-deep hole in granite rock. It is called "The Blowhole" and is connected underground to the Murray River.
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Exploring Tocumwal's Past
Before European settlers arrived, the Ulupna and Bangerang people lived in the Tocumwal area. The first large farms, called pastoral runs, were set up in the 1840s. The town itself was officially started in the early 1860s. It was formally named "TOCUMWAL" in 1862.
The official description said it was: "a Village to be called TOCUMWAL ... Situated on the Murray River, on the road from Albury to Deniliquin, about 50 miles west of Corowa, and 40 south-east of Deniliquin." The Tocumwal Post Office opened on August 1, 1868.
Tocumwal Before Federation
Before Australia became a united country (called Federation), Tocumwal was a key place for customs. Customs points were where taxes were collected on goods moving between different British colonies. Goods traveling between Victoria and New South Wales had to pass through Tocumwal.
Railways and Transport
Railways played a big part in Tocumwal's history. A railway line from Junee reached Narrandera in 1881. This line was then extended to Tocumwal in 1898.
Later, in 1908, a different railway line from Melbourne was extended to Tocumwal. This created a "break-of-gauge" point. This means that trains from different railway systems (with different track widths) had to stop here. Goods or passengers would then transfer to trains on the other track. The railway line from Finley to Tocumwal was closed in 1987.
Tocumwal During World War II
During World War II, Tocumwal was very important. It was home to RAAF Station Tocumwal, a major training airfield and aircraft depot for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Many different units were based here, including training units and aircraft repair depots. Today, this airfield is famous for gliding.
Tocumwal also had a special fuel depot during the war. It was called RAAF No.14 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot. It was built in 1942 to store fuel for RAAF and US Army Air Forces planes.
Life After the War
After World War II ended, many families needed homes. Some were housed at the American Air Force Hospital in Tocumwal. The men would travel across the river to Yarroweyah in Victoria to work on farms. They could then apply to own these farms under a special "soldier settlement" plan.
About 200 Air Force houses in Tocumwal were taken apart after the war. They were moved by truck to Canberra, Australia's capital city. These houses were rebuilt to provide homes for government workers. These "Tocumwal houses" are still a unique part of Canberra's architecture today. You can see them in suburbs like O'Connor and Ainslie.
Historic Places to See
Tocumwal has some places that are listed for their historical importance. These include:
- The Tocumwal railway station
- The Tocumwal Road and Rail Bridge over Murray River
Tocumwal's Climate
Tocumwal has a semi-arid climate. This means it's quite dry, but not a desert. It has hot summers and pleasant winters. The rainfall can change a lot from year to year. For example, in 1982, it only rained 191.1 mm (7.52 inches). But in 1973, it rained a lot more, with 873.8 mm (34.40 inches).
| Climate data for Tocumwal | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 46.5 (115.7) |
45.7 (114.3) |
41.8 (107.2) |
37.0 (98.6) |
29.0 (84.2) |
23.7 (74.7) |
25.5 (77.9) |
30.5 (86.9) |
34.0 (93.2) |
37.0 (98.6) |
43.5 (110.3) |
44.9 (112.8) |
46.5 (115.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32.0 (89.6) |
31.5 (88.7) |
28.1 (82.6) |
23.1 (73.6) |
18.3 (64.9) |
14.7 (58.5) |
13.9 (57.0) |
15.7 (60.3) |
18.9 (66.0) |
22.8 (73.0) |
26.9 (80.4) |
29.7 (85.5) |
23.0 (73.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.2 (61.2) |
16.1 (61.0) |
13.6 (56.5) |
9.7 (49.5) |
6.7 (44.1) |
4.3 (39.7) |
3.4 (38.1) |
4.2 (39.6) |
6.2 (43.2) |
8.8 (47.8) |
11.9 (53.4) |
14.1 (57.4) |
9.6 (49.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 7.4 (45.3) |
6.8 (44.2) |
5.0 (41.0) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
−4 (25) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
1.3 (34.3) |
2.9 (37.2) |
5.1 (41.2) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 33.4 (1.31) |
28.9 (1.14) |
35.2 (1.39) |
32.2 (1.27) |
40.5 (1.59) |
44.0 (1.73) |
41.9 (1.65) |
42.7 (1.68) |
39.0 (1.54) |
42.4 (1.67) |
34.9 (1.37) |
34.1 (1.34) |
449.0 (17.68) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | 2.8 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 5.6 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 3.1 | 51.8 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 33 | 35 | 38 | 46 | 57 | 65 | 65 | 57 | 52 | 45 | 38 | 33 | 47 |
Things to Do and See
Tocumwal has one public primary school and one Catholic primary school. The closest high school is in Finley, about 21 kilometers (13 miles) north.
Sports are very popular in Tocumwal. These include Australian rules football, cricket, and netball. The local football team, the Tocumwal Football Club (known as The Bloods), plays in the Picola & District Football League.
Tocumwal is also famous for a big fish! The largest Murray cod ever caught in the world was caught here.
For fun, Tocumwal has a large 36-hole golf course at the Tocumwal Golf Club. There's also a bowls club. The town is known around the world for gliding at SportAviation.
Images for kids
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The Big Murray Cod on the Tocumwal foreshore
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The Tattersalls Hotel, one of four pubs in Tocumwal
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The Terminus Hotel, another of the four pubs
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Tocumwal Airport
