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Benalla
	Benalla; Victoria
	; Aerial view from the east
	; Benalla
Population:	10,035 (2006 census)
Established:	1840s
Postcode:	3672
Elevation:	169.5 m (556 ft)
Location:	40 km (25 mi) from Wangaratta; 188 km (117 mi) from Melbourne; 61 km (38 mi) from Shepparton;
LGA:	Rural City of Benalla
State District:	Benalla
Federal Division:	Indi

Main street of Benalla

Roses are featured at Benalla Botanic Gardens

Benalla (pronounced /bəˈnælə/)^[2] is a city^[3] is an agricultural city of about 10,000 people located just off the Hume Freeway in north-eastern Victoria, Australia, about 40 kilometres (20 mi) south of Wangaratta. Its Local Government Area is the Rural City of Benalla.

[edit] Overview

The site was originally taken up as a pastoral run by the Reverend Joseph Docker in 1838 and called Benalta Run, from the Aboriginal word for Musk Duck. A town was laid out on the site in 1846. The Post Office opened on 1 December 1844 but named Broken River until 1 January 1854 ^[4]

The Broken River can cause extensive flooding. There is a park and walking track along the river at Benalla, featuring a ceramic sculpture community that was created as part of an employment project for local artists some years ago.

Industries include agricultural support services, tourism, a medium density fibreboard factory, Thales Australia ammunition factory and aviation. The rose gardens and the annual Rose Festival dating from 1967 have contributed to tourism.

Benalla has a regional airport YBLA (BLN) which began life as a major RAAF training base during the second world war and now also serves as the home of the Gliding Club of Victoria as well as a ballooning and ultralight centre.

The Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE has a campus in Benalla which includes the Benalla Performing Arts and Convention Centre opened in 2004 by Lynne Kosky MP, the then Minister of Education and Training.^[5]

Benalla is where champion cyclist Baden Cooke was born and the place of war hero Sir (Ernest) Edward "Weary" Dunlop's education.

Benalla railway station is on the North East railway line and is served by VLine services between Melbourne and Albury as well as a twice daily Countrylink XPT service to and from Sydney.

In October 2002 Benalla was the scene of a rail accident when a B-Double semi trailer collided with a heritage steam train. Three people were killed and a fourth received severe burns when the locomotive rolled onto its side.^[6] ^[7] ^[8] The driver of the truck was charged but later acquitted of culpable driving.

[edit] Retailers

Benalla has many large retailers, including a Coles, Safeway, Target Country, and a Mitre 10 Home & Trade.

[edit] Sport

The town has an Australian rules football team competing in the Goulburn Valley Football League^[9] and a team ( Benalla All Blacks) competing in the Ovens & King Football League.

Benalla has a horse racing club, the Benalla Racing Club, which schedules around eleven race meetings a year including the Benalla Cup meeting in early October.^[10]

Golfers play at the Benalla Golf Club on Mansfield Road, ^[11]or at the course of the Golden Vale Golf Club on Golden Vale Road, Benalla.^[11]

[edit] Notable residents

Edward "Weary" Dunlop - Surgeon and World War II Prisoner of War.
Baden Cooke - Olympic Cyclist
Mark Seymour - Lead singer of Hunters & Collectors and solo artist.
Nick Seymour - Bass player in Crowded House.
Lisa Maxwell - Rock/Pop/Alternative solo artist.
Ivan Durrant - Prominent Australian artist, works displayed worldwide.
Albert Ernest Kitson - Geologist and Naturalist
Tom Long - Actor
Hugh Sawrey - Prominent Australian Artist, works displayed worldwide
Tommy Dunderdale - Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hector Waller - captain of the light cruiser HMAS Perth in the Second World War
Robin Close - Former AFL footballer - Essendon FC
Jarrad Waite - AFL footballer for Calton F C
Pete "Condor" Convery - Bassist for The Galvatrons
Rob "Bozza" Convery - Drummer for The Galvatrons

[edit] References

^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Community Profile Series : Benalla (State Suburb)". 2006 Census of Population and Housing. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ProductSelect?newproducttype=Community+Profiles&collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC25127&breadcrumb=LP&currentaction=201&action=401. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
^ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
^ Latrobe City website: History section
^ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocd.w?, retrieved 2008-04-11
^ Media Release, Minister for Education Kosky opens $4.2 Millon Benalla Performing Arts Centre, Lynne Kosky, Victorian Government, 12 November 2004. Accessed 8 September 2008
^ "Three dead, one critical in steam train crash" (html). Sydney: Sydney Morning Herald. 2002-10-14. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/14/1034222688434.html. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
^ "Three killed in Benalla train crash" (html). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2002-010-13. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200210/s700190.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
^ "Rail Safety Investigation Report - Final" (html). Collision between steam passenger Train 8382 & Loaded B-double truck. Australian Transport Safety Bureau. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2002/RAIR/rair2002003.aspx. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
^ Full Points Footy, Benalla, http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Benalla.htm, retrieved 2008-07-25
^ Country Racing Victoria, Benalla Racing Club, http://www.countryracing.com.au/index.php?option=com_club_info&club=40&Itemid=80, retrieved 2009-05-07
^ ^a ^b Golf Select, Benalla, http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=929, retrieved 2009-05-11

FallingRain Map - elevation = 158m

Wilson, Robert. The book of Australia LANSDOWNE PRESS 1980

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Benalla, Victoria

Coordinates: 36°33′S 145°58′E / 36.55°S 145.967°E / -36.55; 145.967

[0] Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Community Profile Series : Benalla (State Suburb)". 2006 Census of Population and Housing. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ProductSelect?newproducttype=Community+Profiles&collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC25127&breadcrumb=LP&currentaction=201&action=401. Retrieved 2007-07-01.

[1] Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3

[2] Latrobe City website: History section

[a-3] Premier Postal History, Post Office List, https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocd.w?, retrieved 2008-04-11

[4] Media Release, Minister for Education Kosky opens $4.2 Millon Benalla Performing Arts Centre, Lynne Kosky, Victorian Government, 12 November 2004. Accessed 8 September 2008

[5] "Three dead, one critical in steam train crash" (html). Sydney: Sydney Morning Herald. 2002-10-14. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/14/1034222688434.html. Retrieved 2008-02-18.

[6] "Three killed in Benalla train crash" (html). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2002-010-13. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200210/s700190.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-18.

[7] "Rail Safety Investigation Report - Final" (html). Collision between steam passenger Train 8382 & Loaded B-double truck. Australian Transport Safety Bureau. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2002/RAIR/rair2002003.aspx. Retrieved 2008-02-18.

[d-8] Full Points Footy, Benalla, http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Benalla.htm, retrieved 2008-07-25

[RaceClub-9] Country Racing Victoria, Benalla Racing Club, http://www.countryracing.com.au/index.php?option=com_club_info&club=40&Itemid=80, retrieved 2009-05-07

[golf-10] Golf Select, Benalla, http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=929, retrieved 2009-05-11

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