Yarram

Etymology

The term 'Yarram Yarram' is thought to be an Aboriginal phrase meaning 'plenty of water,' however it is not known which language group the name is taken from.

History

The traditional custodians of the land surrounding Yarram are the Brataualung people of the Kurnai People, an Australian Aboriginal group, who resisted the invasion of their lands, and sustained heavy casualties as a result.

Due to its proximity to Port Albert, one of Victoria’s first trade ports, the town grew quickly after settlement. This was as a result of its location in one of Australia’s primary dairy-making regions alongside the presence of the timber industry. In 1841 the site, originally a low-lying swamp, was chosen by a Scottish clan leader, Aeneas Ronaldson MacDonnell, who, with his fellow Scots, attempted to set up a feudal-style court. However, the experiment folded and he subsequently moved to New Zealand.

The post office opened on 1 February 1861 as Yarram Yarram and was renamed Yarram in about 1925. The railway arrived in 1921; the line between Welshpool and Leongatha was closed in October 1987.

The Yarram Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1990.

Mr and Mrs A.J Thompson, publicans and property developers local to Yarram, built the Regent Theatre and its two shops. The project was the last 'picture palace' of its time to be built in Gippsland and cost a total of 20,000 pounds. Today, this amount would be approximately $36,444 Australian dollars.

Notable people from Yarram include 19th century opera singer Ada Crossely, who was born in Tarraville and received piano lessons with Mrs Hastings of the nearby Port Albert at the age of seven, and Kara Healey, who was the first female park ranger in Victoria and an outstanding naturalist. She discovered two types of fungi (Poria Healeyi and Lambertella Healeyi), both of which were named after her.

Today

Yarram is known for its proximity to Ninety Mile Beach, Port Albert, neighbouring Tarra-Bulga National Park and heritage architecture in its Main Street, including the historic Regent Theatre.

Geography

Climate

Yarram experiences an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb) with tepid summers and cool winters. The wettest recorded day was 24 March 2021 with 118.4 mm of rainfall. Extreme temperatures ranged from 46.0 C on 7 February 2009 to -5.2 C on 22 July 2017.

|Jan record high C = 45.7 |Feb record high C = 46.0 |Mar record high C = 40.5 |Apr record high C = 33.0 |May record high C = 27.9 |Jun record high C = 21.5 |Jul record high C = 22.9 |Aug record high C = 24.4 |Sep record high C = 30.7 |Oct record high C = 35.9 |Nov record high C = 40.4 |Dec record high C = 44.0 |Jan record low C = 2.7 |Feb record low C = 3.9 |Mar record low C = 2.3 |Apr record low C = 0.3 |May record low C = -3.0 |Jun record low C = -4.0 |Jul record low C = -5.2 |Aug record low C = -3.7 |Sep record low C = -2.4 |Oct record low C = -1.0 |Nov record low C = -0.2 |Dec record low C = 1.7

Culture

Yarram hosts an annual eisteddfod every August showcasing music, speech and drama.

Sport

The town has an Australian Rules football team by the name of the Yarram Demons (established in 1887) who are competing in the North Gippsland Football League. Yarram is the home of several former AFL footballers, including Royce Vardy, Anthony Banik (Richmond Tigers), Andrew Dunkley (Sydney Swans) and Jed Lamb (Carlton Blues). Current AFL players from the town include Josh Dunkley (Western Bulldogs), Nathan Vardy (West Coast Eagles) and Kyle Dunkley (Melbourne Demons).

Golfers play at the course of the Yarram Golf Club on Old Sale Road.

Education

The town has a secondary college (Yarram Secondary College), a public primary school (Yarram Primary School) and a Catholic primary school (St Mary's Primary School).

Gallery

AltarMosaic-Yarram-Vic-18.3.06.jpg|Last Supper mosaic on the altar of the Catholic Church, Yarram. Postmark Yarram Yarram.jpg|1919 Yarram Yarram postmark.

References

References

1. {{Census 2016 AUS
2. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090215040107/http://www.gippslandinfo.com.au/accom_result1/yarram-victoria-australia/ Yarram, Victoria, Australia] Gippsland and Beyond
3. Gardiner, P. D. (2001). "Gippsland Massacres: The Destruction of the Kurnai tribes 1800-1860". Ngarak Press.
4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20091018054320/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/travel-factsheet/yarram-20081113-5zx7.html Yarram] brisbanetimes Traveller
5. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List".
6. (May 2001). "Review of Legal Services in Rural and Regional Victoria". Parliament of Victoria Law Reform Committee.
7. "Regent Theatre Yarram".
8. "Miss Ada Crossley, Contralto {{!}} National Library of Australia".
9. (2014-03-07). "Kara Healey".
10. "Climate classification maps: Köppen - all classes". [[Bureau of Meteorology]].
11. "Yarram Airport Climate (2007-2025)". [[Australian Community Media]].
12. "Yarram Eisteddfod".
13. Full Points Footy. "Yarram".
14. Golf Select. "Yarram".