Rutherglen, Victoria

Rutherglen pronunciation  is a small town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia, near the Murray River border with New South Wales. The town was named after the Scottish town of Rutherglen which lies just outside Glasgow. At the 2016 census, Rutherglen had a population of 2,109.[1]

This article is about the town in Victoria, Australia. For the town in Scotland, see Rutherglen.

Rutherglen Victoria
The heritage listed Victoria Hotel in Main Street
Rutherglen Location in Shire of Indigo
Coordinates	36°03′20″S 146°27′45″E
Population	2,109 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	3685
Elevation	175 m (574 ft)
Location	276 km (171 mi) NE of Melbourne 45 km (28 mi) W of Wodonga 15 km (9 mi) S of Corowa (NSW)
LGA(s)	Shire of Indigo
State electorate(s)	Benambra
Federal Division(s)	Indi
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 21.8 °C ^71 °F 7.3 °C ^45 °F 581.4 mm ^22.9 in

Features

Rutherglen Wine Experience & Visitor Centre

Rutherglen is located north of Wangaratta and west of Wodonga, just 10 kilometres from the Murray River at the border towns of Wahgunyah and Corowa.

Originally a gold-mining town of the mid-19th century, it has since developed into a major wine-producing area, with 17 wineries all located within a short drive from the town centre, the best of which are highly regarded by wine critics (Halliday, Parker). The Muscat and Topaque (formerly known as Tokay) wines are sometimes described as having no worldwide equal. The region also produces a good Port style of fortified wine.

The largest winery in the region is the All Saints Winery, located just a short drive north-west outside of Wahgunyah. Established in 1864, it features landscaped gardens, ponds, a restaurant and wine tasting facilities. The Rutherglen Wine Experience Visitor Information Centre, located in the town centre on Main Street, offers displays of the town's rich history, how wines are made, and comprehensive tourist information.

The main street of Rutherglen maintains its historical charm, with most of the shop fronts retaining the same look they had a century ago. Attractions within the town include Lake King which is surrounded by Apex Park and Rutherglen Park, as well as the historical wine-bottle-shaped water tower in Campbell Street.

History

Rutherglen Post Office opened on 1 November 1860.[2]

The Rutherglen Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1990.[3]

Wine

Main article: Rutherglen wine region

The Rutherglen wine region is a wine-producing area around the town of Rutherglen and is particularly noted for its sweet fortified wines.

Sport

The town in conjunction with nearby town Corowa has an Australian Rules football team (Corowa-Rutherglen) competing in the Ovens & Murray Football League.[4] Another Australian rules football team, Rutherglen Football Club, play in the Tallangatta & District Football League.

Golfers play at the course of the Rutherglen Golf Club on Murray Street. The current club professional is Paul Black.[5]

Climate

Rutherglen features a mediterranean climate (Csa) with hot, dry summers and cool, damp winters. Climate data is sourced from Rutherglen Research; established in 1912 and still operating today.

The highest temperature recorded was 46.8 °C (116.2 °F) on 14 January 1939, whereas the lowest was −7.5 °C (18.5 °F) on 14 June 2006.

Climate data for Rutherglen Research (1912–2020); 175 m AMSL; 36° 06′ 16.92″ S
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	46.8 (116.2)	45.6 (114.1)	40.2 (104.4)	35.5 (95.9)	28.7 (83.7)	22.2 (72.0)	22.5 (72.5)	24.9 (76.8)	32.2 (90.0)	38.9 (102.0)	41.8 (107.2)	45.6 (114.1)	46.8 (116.2)
Average high °C (°F)	31.5 (88.7)	30.8 (87.4)	27.4 (81.3)	22.0 (71.6)	17.0 (62.6)	13.4 (56.1)	12.4 (54.3)	14.0 (57.2)	17.2 (63.0)	21.1 (70.0)	25.5 (77.9)	29.3 (84.7)	21.8 (71.2)
Average low °C (°F)	13.8 (56.8)	13.9 (57.0)	11.0 (51.8)	7.1 (44.8)	4.3 (39.7)	2.5 (36.5)	2.1 (35.8)	2.7 (36.9)	4.1 (39.4)	6.2 (43.2)	8.7 (47.7)	11.5 (52.7)	7.3 (45.2)
Record low °C (°F)	1.9 (35.4)	1.2 (34.2)	−0.9 (30.4)	−3.2 (26.2)	−6.1 (21.0)	−7.5 (18.5)	−6.9 (19.6)	−6.1 (21.0)	−5.3 (22.5)	−5.1 (22.8)	−2.8 (27.0)	0.0 (32.0)	−7.5 (18.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	36.4 (1.43)	37.6 (1.48)	38.5 (1.52)	39.5 (1.56)	51.8 (2.04)	56.4 (2.22)	61.1 (2.41)	60.2 (2.37)	53.7 (2.11)	56.9 (2.24)	45.0 (1.77)	44.3 (1.74)	581.4 (22.89)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)	5.1	4.9	5.2	6.7	9.9	12.4	14.4	14.0	10.9	9.6	7.6	6.2	106.9
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Rutherglen Research

Notable people

• Dawn Leahy (Owner/Operator at Silver Key Cafe) The number one establishment for food and coffee in the region.
• Sir John Harris (1868–1946), politician and sherry pioneer
• Michael Joseph Savage (1872–1940), Prime Minister of New Zealand, lived at North Prentice
• Erle Cox (1873–1950), author
• Robert Campbell, former Hawthorn footballer
• Stanley (Sonny) Thomas Downs, Order of Australia, Champion Lawn Bowler, Vice President World Bowls.

Festivals and events

• Rutherglen Regatta: second weekend of January
• Tastes of Rutherglen: second weekend of March - third weekend of March
• Winery Walkabout: Queen's Birthday long weekend of June
• Rutherglen Agricultural Show: third weekend of October
• Tour de Rutherglen: first weekend of November
• Rutherglen Farmers Market: second weekend each month

See also

• Australian wine

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Rutherglen (Urban Centre Locality)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
2. Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
3. "Review of Legal Services in Rural and Regional Victoria" (PDF). Parliament of Victoria Law Reform Committee. May 2001. pp. 291–292. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
4. Full Points Footy, Corowa Rutherglen, archived from the original on 24 July 2008, retrieved 25 July 2008
5. Golf Select, Rutherglen, retrieved 11 May 2009

• Heritage citation for the Victoria Hotel in the National Trust (Victoria) Register
• Wine styles of Rutherglen by Australian wine critic, James Halliday
• Rutherglen Tokay and Muscat by U.S. wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr.
• Wine styles of Rutherglen by Australian wine critic, James Halliday
• Rutherglen Tokay and Muscat by U.S. wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr.

External links

• Rotary Club of Rutherglen