From the first time Charles Wyse went looking for stray cattle in 1835¹ to the opening of Waldemar Dyring’s General Store and Tallangatta Hotel at the junction of the Tallangatta and Mitta River in 1869², to the formation of the River Murray Commission in 1918 that paved the way to the building of an enormous reservoir that caused the removal of an entire town, Tallangatta has emerged as a place of resilience.

It is little wonder that Tallangatta was named a “notable town” by the National Trust in 2016³, the people of this small Victorian community have certainly lived through something extraordinary – the complete removal and transportation of their entire town. For years the locals had heard rumours surrounding the expansion of the Hume Reservoir and the prospect that their town would be flooded as a result of the expansion. It wasn’t until November 1950 that an Act of parliament finally put an end to the rumours – the town, the whole town, would move.

The following collection of Newspaper articles appear in chronological order from 1918 through to 1956, and have been selected to display the varied sources of information available to the public throughout the removal process.

Search parameters for further research are suggested throughout the timeline. For more information please visit the library in Tallangatta, 33-37 Towong Street from Tuesday – Saturday or visit “Imagery & Artefacts” and “Evaluation & Research” on this website.

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1918: Locking the Murray

The Argus, Melbourne, 9 February, 1918

The Federal, New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian governments signed the River Murray Water Act⁴ in 1915, dividing the water resources between the three states and paving the way for the creation of the River Murray Commission. In 1918, the River Murray Commission proposed that,

“the best site so far discovered for the construction of a storage weir to lock the Murray waters was at a point on the Murray just below the junction of the Mitta Mitta River. This would have the effect of transforming the river flats from Tallangatta along the Mitta Mitta River to the Murray, .. into a storage reservoir.”⁵

That said, the original capacity cited for the reservoir meant that Tallangatta would not be impacted. It wasn’t until the expansion was proposed to include capacity for a hydro-electric scheme did the continued existence of the township become threatened.

1919: Turning the Sod Ceremony

The Merbein Irrigationist and Murray Valley Soldiers’ Gazette, Mildura, 10 December, 1919

A brief piece regarding the first earth turned to create the original version of the Hume Weir. It was hoped that work “will be expedited so as to safeguard the Interests of Irrigation areas already established and facilitate the settlement of returned soldiers and others.”⁶

1924: Hume Reservoir – Hydro-Electric Scheme – Larger Capacity Needed

The Observer, Adelaide, 16 February, 1924

Article annotation: This article informs the reader of correspondence from the “Chairman of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria” in 1922 proposing the use of the reservoir for “hydro-electric development”. The article also discusses the need for the NSW, Victorian and South Australian governments to collaborate on the expansion as the river impacts all three of these regions. In addition, it is interesting to note the remark stating that

“any proposals to use the reservoir for hydro-electric generation must be subservient to the economical use of the Murray water for irrigation and navigation.”⁷

Statement: The second half of the 19th century brought about a surge in technological advancement regarding hydropower⁸. Such advancements brought about the potential for rural Australian townships to be powered by hydropower. however, if that was to occur, the reservoir would need to almost double in size. Such an expansion would, without doubt, consume the township of Tallangatta. To find out more about the decision processes surrounding the expansion of the Hume Dam, the following details are suggested:

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1943: Hume Dam will Swallow Tallangatta

The Herald, Melbourne, 11 November, 1943

This newspaper article, from The Herald in Melbourne, proposes that a “portion of Tallangatta” maybe submerged if the expansion goes ahead. The article goes on further to state that the “Removal of the town will provide an excellent opportunity to build a model town”⁹.

1944: Tallangatta will grow again

By Caroline Isaacson, The Argus, Melbourne, 14 December, 1944

A positive account of the calm acceptance displayed by the people of Tallangatta regarding their impending move.

“This threat of submersion has been hanging over them for 18 years, and despite it, they have gone on their way, carried on their businesses, and lived their usual lives.”¹⁰

Statement: There was a great deal of public interest in the notion that an entire town would be moved to make way the expansion of the Hume Dam. The following search parameters on Trove unearth a plethora of articles regarding the phenomena that captured the imagination of the nation.

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1950: Decision on Tallangatta

Border Morning Mail, Albury, 10 July, 1950

It must have been a frustrating time for the people of Tallangatta, knowing the township was to move, but not knowing when or where. This article in the Border Morning Mail, published five and half years after the previous article cited here by Isaacson demonstrates the”sea of indecision” occupied by the “numberless Governments, departments, committees and officials”.¹¹ The article also notes delays to the “important expansion” of the Hume Dam, displaying a support for the expansion project.

Passing of the Tallangatta Township (Removal) Act, 1950

28th November, 1950

This official act of the VIctorian Parliament put an end to the indecision and conjecture regarding the moving of the township of Tallangatta. In section 6 the act states that the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission shall move particular dwellings and construct new “houses buildings or improvements”¹² and also provide transport for residents between the two sights for three years.

It was now official. The town was going to be moved to a new location and the old town submerged by the Hume Dam expansion.

1952: Money Waste Alleged in Moving Tallangatta

Border Morning Mail, 14 October, 1952

This article is an example of local concerns regarding the cost of moving the township to the nearby region of Bolga, with Mr. J. McRobert, the Secretary of the local Tallangatta Butter Factory claiming that the Victorian Government was wasting money on the move. Money, McRobert claimed, that could be used “for the establishment of 75 to 100 additional returned soldier farmers”¹³.

1954: Back to Tallangatta

Demonstrating the spirit of the people of the town, several newspapers advertise a festival held from March 6-14, 1954 for all current and previous residents of Tallangatta to farewell the old town¹⁴. The ‘Back to Tallangatta’ festival was not a new idea, but this particular event holds special significance given that it would be the last one in the old township.

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1954: State Rivers and Water Supply Commission Tallangatta Township Removal Project

Part 1: The Upper Murray and Mitta Herald, 22 April, 1954, page 5

Part 2: The Upper Murray and Mitta Herald, 29 April, 1954, pages 1 and 8

The Upper Murray and Mitta Herald state that the information provided in these two large articles had been “provided by the Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Melbourne and of great interest to our readers¹⁵. The two articles feature many details regarding the purchase of land to be submerged, information for shopkeepers and business owners, the various different approaches to property evaluation and removal information. It is interesting to note that the first part of the article appeared on page 5 of the Herald whilst the second part appeared on page 1 the following week.

1955: Tallangatta is moving on

The Argus, Melbourne, 24 August, 1955.

A brief update on the progress of moving the towning of Tallangatta, stating that up to this date, “the 100th family moved into its house in the new township”¹⁶.

Statement: A few articles of this nature appear throughout 1954-1956, but are usually very short. It appears that once that town began the removal process, the sensationalism surrounding the event dissipated in the media. This is also evidenced by the lack of prominent articles surrounding the ceremony to open the new township.

1956: Official Opening of New Tallangatta

Rutherglen Sun and Chiltern Valley Advertiser, 15 June, 1956

The article announces details for the forthcoming official “transition ceremony” to be conducted by the “Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Field Marshall Sir William Slim”¹⁷ on June 29, 1956.

1956: Official celebrations to mark the transfer of Tallangatta to the new site

The Governor General, Field Marshall Sir William Slim unveiling the commemorative plaque at the official opening of the new town, June 29, 1956¹⁸.

A number of images recording the transition ceremony to commemorate the new township of Tallangatta can be found on the State Library of Victoria website (click on the above heading to access a direct link to these images).

The Argus reported that inclement weather threatened access to the township due to the rising of the Mitta Mitta River¹⁹, but these photographs demonstrate that the ceremony did proceed.

Statement: Few articles exist regarding the ceremony/official opening. It appears that by the time the township had moved, the media’s fascination with the concept had well and truly dwindled. For those interested in the transition ceremony, we recommend searching the State Library of Victoria’s catalogue as detailed below.

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Reference List

1. Farwell, G. (1965). Ghost Towns of Australia. Rigby, [Adelaide] p. 89 ↩︎
2. Ronan, M. (2001). The Century Book. Unpublished manuscript. p. 2 ↩︎
3. n.d. (2016, August 5). Tallangatta – Our New Notable Town. Trust Advocate. https://www.trustadvocate.org.au/tallangatta-our-new-notable-town/ ↩︎
4. River Murray Water Act 1915 (Cth). https://www.legislation.gov.au/C1915A00046/asmade/text ↩︎
5. n.d. (1918, February 9). Locking the Murray. The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), p. 18. Retrieved June 8, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1638625 ↩︎
6. n.d. (1919, December 10). Turning the Sod Ceremony. The Merbein Irrigationist and Murray Valley Soldiers’ Gazette (Vic. : 1919 – 1920), p. 2. Retrieved June 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article258151539 ↩︎
7. n.d. (1924, February 16). Hume Reservoir. Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), p. 18. Retrieved June 8, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170490608  ↩︎
8. Fasol, K.H. (2002). A short history of hydropower control. IEEE Control systems magazine, 22(4), 68-76. ↩︎
9. n.d. (1943, November 12). Tallangatta may be submerged. Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW : 1934 – 1935; 1938 – 1953), p. 2. Retrieved June 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article254940092 ↩︎
10. Isaacson, C. (1944, December 14). Tallangatta will grow again. The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), p. 5. Retrieved June 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11374721 ↩︎
11. n.d. (1950, July 10). Decision on Tallangatta. Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW : 1934 – 1935; 1938 – 1953), p. 2. Retrieved June 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article267798409 ↩︎
12. Tallangatta Township (Removal) Act 1950 (Vic). https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/repealed-revoked/acts/tallangatta-township-removal-act-1950/001 ↩︎
13. n.d. (1952, October 14). Money waste alleged in moving Tallangatta. Border Morning Mail https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/273295425/31170580 ↩︎
14. n.d. (1954, February 11). Back to Tallangatta. Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 – 1954), p. 22. Retrieved June 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172536953 ↩︎
15. n.d. (1954, April 22). State Rivers and Water Supply Commission Tallangatta Township Removal Project. The Upper Murray and Mitta Herald https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/30230970 ↩︎
16. n.d. (1955, August 24). Tallangatta is moving on. The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), p. 6. Retrieved June 8, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71675666 ↩︎
17. n.d. (1956, June 15). Official Opening of New Tallangatta. A Rutherglen Sun and Chiltern Valley Advertiser (Vic. : 1886 – 1957), p. 2. Retrieved June 8, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article268871734 ↩︎
18. Official celebrations to mark the transfer of Tallangatta to the new site. (1956). https://find.slv.vic.gov.au/permalink/61SLV_INST/1sev8ar/alma9939653909807636 ↩︎
19. n.d. (1956, June 29). Can we beat flood? Asks Tallangatta. The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), p. 5. Retrieved June 8, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71811848 ↩︎