Bright (Victoria)
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 Bright from nearby Tower Hill. In the background: Mount Feathertop |
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Bright is a city in the northeast of the Australian state of Victoria . It is located on the upper reaches of the Ovens River in the Alpine Shire Local Government Area . The 2006 census showed 2310 inhabitants.
history
Hamilton Hume and William Hovell explored this area in 1824 and gave the Ovens River its name.
The town was initially named Morse's Creek after Freeman H. Morse , but was renamed in 1861 in honor of the British politician John Bright . The first post office opened as Morse's Creek Post Office on January 25, 1860 and was renamed the Bright Post Office in 1866 .
During the time of the Victorian Gold Rush , gold was also found in the nearby Buckland River . But when the gold discoveries slowly decreased, Chinese prospectors settled in the area and took over the claims . Tensions between the Chinese and Anglo-Irish miners, sparked by the Chinese success, led to the Buckland Riot in 1857 . As a result, several Chinese people died and 2000 of their compatriots fled. The uprising was finally put down by Beechworth Police , 50 miles away, under the command of Robert O'Hara Burke .
Bright has a rich cultural heritage and many parts of the city - including streets - are named after families whose descendants still live in the city today. The Bright Historical Society has a wealth of records on the history of the area.
Attractions
The city's main industry today is tourism. The autumnal foliage coloring of European trees that were planted in the area is particularly popular. A major cultural event is the Bright Autumn Festival .
Because of the many launch sites for paragliders and hang-gliders near Bright, the city has become a hub for paragliding festivals and competitions.
Bright is a gateway to the majestic scenery of the Australian Alps and is home to many native birds and other animals. Morses Creek and Ovens River have hiking trails along their banks that are ideal for short or longer hikes.
Bright is also a popular vacation spot for families and its population is growing - especially after Christmas. In the summer, Bright's climate is warm and dry, but not hot. The night temperatures are bearable.
Many alpine national parks, such as B. the Mount Buffalo National Park are in the vicinity of the city, as well as the Mount Feathertop , Mount Bogong and Mount Hotham . At 1,986 m, Mount Bogong is the highest point in Victoria, Mount Feathertop at 1,922 m, the second highest.
The station serves as a historical museum. There have been no trains to Bright for a long time, but the 95 km long Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail is a cycle path on the route of the former railway. It runs through Myrtleford , Beechworth and Wangaratta .
schools
The Bright P-12 College is within walking distance of the city center. There students from the surrounding towns of Porepunkah, Harrietville and Wandiligong are taught. During the winter, students from Dinner Plain also go to college.
The college is one of the few state schools that combines elementary and secondary schools in one institute.
Flora and fauna
There are many different plants and animals in the area. You can see lots of wildflowers, large and small trees, undergrowth and ferns side by side in this habitat. Platypus , fish, crayfish and amphibians can be found in their natural habitat just 350 meters from the city center . There are dragonflies , bees and many native birds buzzing in the air . B. garden fan tails , hunter's lair , magpies and cockatoos . Lyrebird can be heard outside the city and can be found Wombats and the occasional echidna . Many species of mostly small reptiles, such as B. Lizards, live in the area.
Sports
Hang gliding and paragliding are popular sports in Mystic Flight Park , 3 km from town.
You can fish in the rivers and reservoirs. Trout from local breeding were used in the reservoirs .
Mountain biking is possible on trails near the city center. The routes ranged from technically challenging to easy along the riverbank. The most interesting are found at Baker's Gully , while the downhill routes are more likely to be found on Mystic Hill , Apex Hill and Porepunkah on the south bank of the Ovens River. The Audax Alpine Classic is a cycling race held every year on Australia Day , bringing 2,000 cyclists to Bright. The 200 km route leads to Falls Creek and then Mount Buffalo .
There is an Australian football team in town that plays in the Ovens & King Football League .
Golfers play at Bright Country Golf Club on Back Porepunkah Road .
traffic
Bright is connected via the Great Alpine Road to the Hume Freeway approx. 75 km northwest and to the Murray Valley Highway approx. 120 km northeast. The Great Alpine Road also connects to the southeast of the state.
Bright can be reached by plane via Mount Hotham Airport (75 km southeast) and Porepunkah Airfield . Only small aircraft can land at both airports.
There was also a railway connection until the 1980s. In the 1990s, the route was converted into a cycle path.
Web links
- Bright Official Website
- Bright Victoria State Government Tourism Website
- Bright Village
- Valley FM 87.6 Bright
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics : Bright ( English ) In: 2016 Census QuickStats . June 27, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Premier Postal History: Post Office List . Retrieved April 11, 2008.
- ^ Gifford Eardley: The Ovens Valley Goldfield Railways . Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin. December 1968. pp. 281-294; January 1969. pp. 1-18
- ^ Golf Select: Bright . Retrieved May 11, 2009.