Tyalgum, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids TyalgumNew South Wales |
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Australia Day, Coolman Street, Tyalgum
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 Tyalgum
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 521 (2021 census) | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2484 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 55.0 m (180 ft) | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | Tweed Shire | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Lismore | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Richmond | ||||||||
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Tyalgum is a small village in the countryside of north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. In 2021, about 521 people lived there.
Tyalgum is located about 26 kilometres (16 mi) west of Murwillumbah. It's also about 70 kilometres (43 mi) from the Gold Coast and 130 kilometres (81 mi) from Brisbane.
The village gets its water from the Pumpenbil and Tyalgum creeks. Long ago, these creeks were used to move huge red cedar logs. Tyalgum is surrounded by a beautiful valley. This valley was formed by the Border Ranges and Mount Warning.
Some important places in Tyalgum include the Flutterbies Cottage Cafe and the Tyalgum Store, which opened in 1907. The Tyalgum Hall is famous for its annual Classical Music Festival.
There are plans for Tyalgum to get its electricity from local renewable sources. This means using solar power and special batteries.
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Tyalgum's Weather and Climate
Tyalgum has a mild climate. The average yearly temperature is about 18.9 °C (66.0 °F). It usually gets a lot of rain, with an average of 1,555.4 millimetres (61.24 in) each year. Most of this rain falls during the summer months.
Who Lives in Tyalgum?
In 2021, the population of Tyalgum was 521 people. The number of females and males was about equal.
The average age of people in Tyalgum was 46 years old. This is a bit older than the average age for all of Australia, which is 38.
Most people (77.9%) living in Tyalgum were born in Australia. Other countries of birth included England (5.2%), New Zealand (2.1%), and South Africa (1.2%).
Almost everyone (95.4%) spoke only English at home. A few people spoke other languages like Punjabi, German, Mandarin, and Thai.
Tyalgum Classical Music Festival
The Tyalgum Festival of Classical Music started in 1991. It was created by violinists Carmel Kaine and John Willison. They discovered that the village Hall had amazing sound quality.
Since then, the festival has been held every September. It is now one of Australia's top classical music events. Many artists say the 1908 hall is one of the best concert venues in the world.
How the Festival Began
The Tyalgum Festival started because of two main things. In 1990, Carmel Kaine and John Willison bought a home near Tyalgum. They were both famous violinists and teachers.
They decided to hold a small concert at their home. They wanted to see if local people were interested in music. The concert was a success, and people wanted more.
Someone suggested holding the next concert in the historic Tyalgum Literary Institute Hall. This hall would become the main home of the festival.
The Tyalgum Literary Institute Hall's Special Sound
In 1986, local artists used the Tyalgum Literary Institute Hall for plays. But when it rained, the noise on the roof was too loud. They thought about insulating the roof.
However, an expert named Peter Knowland said not to. He believed the hall had excellent acoustics, meaning it sounded great. The ripple iron ceiling and wooden floors helped create a warm, clear sound.
Another reason the festival started was a concert in Murwillumbah. Very few people attended, showing the need for a better place to perform. It was hoped that the Tyalgum Hall could be that special place.
The Limpinwood Ensemble and Early Success
Based on the expert's advice, Carmel and John decided to perform at the Tyalgum Hall. A local group was formed to help organize the concert.
John and Carmel's music group was named The Limpinwood Ensemble. The first concert was sold out and a big success. Meals were served at the hall, making the experience even better.
The first full Tyalgum Festival was held in September 1992. It included concerts, nature walks, and other events. The festival committee worked hard to get people interested.
The festival started without any government money. But each concert made enough profit to fund the main festival. This allowed them to pay performers well.
They also started asking composers to write new music about Tyalgum. The festival grew and became very popular. Later, they received some grants to help it continue.
The Bakehouse Pottery and Art for Kids
In 1981, a potter named Les Peterkin bought the old village bakery. He turned it into the Bakehouse Pottery. This place is now a popular cafe called Flutterbies Cottage Cafe.
Les Peterkin's pottery is very well known and sought after. You can see many of his works on his website.
Les Peterkin also taught at the local primary school. In 1994, he started the "Les Peterkin Portrait Prize" for children. Thousands of kids from local schools enter this art competition every year. Their artwork is shown at the Tweed River Gallery in Murwillumbah.
