Bright, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Bright is a small sized town, located in northeastern Victoria
, Australia
, 319 metres above sea level
at the southeastern end of the Ovens Valley. At the 2006 census
, Bright had a population of 2684. It is in the Alpine Shire
local government area. Its postcode is 3741.
the area in 1824, naming the Ovens River.
The town was first known as Morse's Creek after F.H. Morse but in 1861 it was renamed in honour of the British orator and politician John Bright
. The Post Office opened on 25 January 1860 as Morse's Creek and was renamed Bright in 1866.
During the Victorian gold rush
there was a rush to the nearby Buckland River. As the gold deposits gradually diminished, Chinese miners arrived in the area to sift the abandoned claims. Tensions over Chinese success from Anglo-Irish miners caused the violent Buckland Riot
in 1857, resulting in deaths of Chinese miners and the fleeing of 2,000 Chinese. The riot was eventually quelled by the Beechworth
police under the command of Robert O'Hara Burke
from 80 kilometres away.
Bright has a rich cultural heritage and many locations within the town along with street names can be traced to present day residents. The Bright Historical Society has extensive records of the region's past.
Due to the number of paragliding and hang glider launch sites close to Bright, the town has been a centre of activity for paragliding festivals and competitions.
Bright is a major gateway to majestic alpine scenery and has a variety of native birds and animals. Morses Creek and the Ovens River have adjoining tracks which are ideal for short or long walks.
Bright is also a popular family destination over summer and the population swells, particularly after Christmas. During the summer months Bright enjoys consistently warm, sunny days with comfortable overnight temperatures.
The town is close to the Victorian Alps, and various alpine national parks including the Mount Buffalo National Park
.
Mount Feathertop
, Mount Bogong
and Mount Hotham
are also near the township. At 1986 metres Bogong is the highest peak in the state of Victoria, Feathertop is the second highest at 1922 metres above sea level
.
The railway station has been preserved as a local history museum. Although trains no longer run from the township, the 95 km Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail
allows cyclists to travel the same route that train passengers would have travelled via the townships of Myrtleford, Beechworth and Wangaratta.
is located within walking distance of the town centre. The College population comprises students from the surrounding townships of Porepunkah, Harrietville
and Wandiligong. The College also operates an annex school in Dinner Plain during the winter season.
The College is one of a few state educational facilities where primary and secondary students share the same campus.
s can be seen close to each other. Within literally 350 metres of the town centre, just a few minutes walk, can be seen platypus
, fish, yabbies and amphibians in their natural environment. Overhead there are Dragonflies, harmless native bees and many species of birds including Willy Wagtail, Kookaburra
, Magpie
and Cockatoo
to name a few. They give the area an intermittent background soundtrack and can be quite communicative and sometimes emphatic if not occasionally boisterous. Lyrebird
s can be heard outside of town and Wombats and the occasional Echidna
can be seen. Several species of mostly small Reptile such as Lizards live in the area, and whilst the local people have a most approachable charm typical of small towns
and are surprisingly diverse given the conservative and historic town facade, the same forthright approach to new acquaintances is however not recommended if you chance upon a Goanna
or Snake
on one of the many nearby wooded bushwalking tracks as they have a different temperament indeed.
are popular activities and the Mystic Flight Park is located 3 kilometres from town.
Fishing
occurs in the rivers and dams in the area and are stocked with Trout from the local hatchery.
Mountain Biking
trails exist close to the town centre. The tracks range from technical, fast, singletracks to easy river side rides. Best trails are found within the Baker's Gully area and downhill tracks are located off Mystic Hill, Apex Hill and in the Porepunkah pines on the south side of the Ovens River.
Cycling
: The Audax Alpine Classic
cycle event is run every Australia Day
weekend by Audax Australia
with over 2000 cyclists descending on Bright. The 200 km route takes the rider to Falls Creek
and back and then a return trip to Mount Buffalo.
The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Ovens & King Football League
.
Golfers play at the Bright Country Golf Club on Back Porepunkah Road.
There are many events held in the Bright township and surrounding areas.
In Spring, Bright holds regular Markets, as well as the Bright Spring Festival, Bright 6 Hour Mountain Bike Event, Bright High Country Horse Endurance Ride, Art Exhibitions, Bright Grand Fireworks Spectacular and Concert, Bright Alpine Four Peaks Mountain Climb (www.brightvic.com/alpineclimb), Harrietville Bluegrass and Traditional Country Music Convention and the Alpine Delight (Audax Cycling Event).
In Summer you can attend the SP Ausnet - Tour of Bright - Road Cycling Race, Christmas Carols at the Bright Art Gallery, Carols by Candlelight at the Bright Sound Shell and the Rotary Waterside at Centenary Park.
There are also many markets in Bright and Harrietville
, as well as the Alpine Valley's Gourmet Weekend and Drive in Movies at Pioneer Park.
Autumn brings the Bright Autumn Festival, the Alpine Classic Golf Tournament, held in Bright, Myrtleford and Wangaratta. The Bright Easter Market is on as well as the Alpine Film Festival.
Winter brings snow to the surrounding peaks and the opening of the Snow Season on Queen's Birthday weekend.
The area is within a mobile phone coverage region for NextG (3G) and GSM. (as of Feb 2008)
A variety of internet access is available including internet cafe style access. ADSL is available in most places.
There are no longer any ADSL1 ports. (as of Jan 2010)
connecting to the Melbourne to Sydney Hume Freeway about 75 kilometres (47 mi) to the northwest or 120 kilometres (75 mi) to the north or through the Murray Valley Highway
to the northeast, Canberra and the east coast, or along the continuation of the Great Alpine Highway to the southeast of the state.
Air access is via small aircraft landing strips in the area like Mount Hotham Airport
75 kilometres (47 mi) by road to the southeast, and Porepunkah Airport.
The town was served by the Bright railway line but this closed in the 1980s. During the late 1990s the line was converted into the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail
for cyclists.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 319 metres above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
at the southeastern end of the Ovens Valley. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Bright had a population of 2684. It is in the Alpine Shire
Alpine Shire
Alpine Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the north-eastern part of the state. It includes the towns of Bright, Mount Beauty and Myrtleford. It has an area of 4,885 square kilometres. In 2001 it had a population of 17,581 and still growing. There are two...
local government area. Its postcode is 3741.
History
Hamilton Hume and William Hovell exploredHume and Hovell expedition
The Hume and Hovell expedition was one of the most important journeys of explorations undertaken in eastern Australia. In 1824 the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane, commissioned Hamilton Hume and former Royal Navy Captain William Hovell to lead an expedition to find new grazing land...
the area in 1824, naming the Ovens River.
The town was first known as Morse's Creek after F.H. Morse but in 1861 it was renamed in honour of the British orator and politician John Bright
John Bright
John Bright , Quaker, was a British Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with Richard Cobden in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League. He was one of the greatest orators of his generation, and a strong critic of British foreign policy...
. The Post Office opened on 25 January 1860 as Morse's Creek and was renamed Bright in 1866.
During the Victorian gold rush
Victorian gold rush
The Victorian gold rush was a period in the history of Victoria, Australia approximately between 1851 and the late 1860s. In 10 years the Australian population nearly tripled.- Overview :During this era Victoria dominated the world's gold output...
there was a rush to the nearby Buckland River. As the gold deposits gradually diminished, Chinese miners arrived in the area to sift the abandoned claims. Tensions over Chinese success from Anglo-Irish miners caused the violent Buckland Riot
Buckland Riot
The Buckland Riot was an anti-Chinese race riot that occurred on 4 July 1857, in the goldfields of the Buckland Valley, Victoria, Australia. At the time approximately 2000 Chinese and 700 European migrants were living in the Buckland area.-Riot:...
in 1857, resulting in deaths of Chinese miners and the fleeing of 2,000 Chinese. The riot was eventually quelled by the Beechworth
Beechworth, Victoria
Beechworth is a well-preserved historical town located in the north-east of Victoria, Australia, famous for its major growth during the gold rush days of the mid-1850s...
police under the command of Robert O'Hara Burke
Burke and Wills expedition
In 1860–61, Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills led an expedition of 19 men with the intention of crossing Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north, a distance of around 3,250 kilometres...
from 80 kilometres away.
Bright has a rich cultural heritage and many locations within the town along with street names can be traced to present day residents. The Bright Historical Society has extensive records of the region's past.
Features
The main industry of the town at the beginning of the 21st century is tourism, with much focus on the autumnal colours of the European trees planted in the area. A major cultural event is the Bright Autumn Festival.Due to the number of paragliding and hang glider launch sites close to Bright, the town has been a centre of activity for paragliding festivals and competitions.
Bright is a major gateway to majestic alpine scenery and has a variety of native birds and animals. Morses Creek and the Ovens River have adjoining tracks which are ideal for short or long walks.
Bright is also a popular family destination over summer and the population swells, particularly after Christmas. During the summer months Bright enjoys consistently warm, sunny days with comfortable overnight temperatures.
The town is close to the Victorian Alps, and various alpine national parks including the Mount Buffalo National Park
Mount Buffalo National Park
Mount Buffalo is a mountain plateau in Victoria , 200 km northeast of Melbourne. It is one of the oldest parks in the Australian Alps, being first established in 1898 when 1165 ha was reserved around Eurobin Falls...
.
Mount Feathertop
Mount Feathertop
Mount Feathertop is the second-highest mountain in the Australian state of Victoria and is a member of the Australian Alps located entirely within the Alpine National Park. It rises to and is usually covered in snow from June to September...
, Mount Bogong
Mount Bogong
Mount Bogong , located in the Alpine National Park, is the highest mountain in Victoria, Australia. The Big River separates the massif of the mountain from the Bogong High Plains to the south. "Bogong" in the local Aboriginal language means bigfella...
and Mount Hotham
Mount Hotham
Mount Hotham is a mountain in Victoria, Australia. It is home to Hotham Alpine Resort. The mountain is located approximately north east of Melbourne, from Sydney, and from Adelaide by road. Mt Hotham's summit rises to an altitude of above sea level...
are also near the township. At 1986 metres Bogong is the highest peak in the state of Victoria, Feathertop is the second highest at 1922 metres above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
The railway station has been preserved as a local history museum. Although trains no longer run from the township, the 95 km Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail
Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail
The Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail is a cycling and walking rail trail in northern Victoria, Australia. It extends from Wangaratta to Bright, with a side branch to Beechworth, following the route of the former Bright railway line...
allows cyclists to travel the same route that train passengers would have travelled via the townships of Myrtleford, Beechworth and Wangaratta.
Education
Bright P-12 CollegeBright P-12 College
Bright P-12 College is a public school situated in the North-Eastern of Victoria, Australia. It has recently undergone dramatic change and developments, with a multi-million dollar make-over around the school. It is surrounded by green hills. The 1876 building has recently undergone a dramatic...
is located within walking distance of the town centre. The College population comprises students from the surrounding townships of Porepunkah, Harrietville
Harrietville
Harrietville is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Great Alpine Road, in the Alpine Shire. At the 2006 census, Harrietville and the surrounding area had a population of 278....
and Wandiligong. The College also operates an annex school in Dinner Plain during the winter season.
The College is one of a few state educational facilities where primary and secondary students share the same campus.
Flora and fauna
The local area has an abundance and variety of plants and animals. Many wildflowers, large and small trees, undergrowth and even fernFern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s can be seen close to each other. Within literally 350 metres of the town centre, just a few minutes walk, can be seen platypus
Platypus
The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young...
, fish, yabbies and amphibians in their natural environment. Overhead there are Dragonflies, harmless native bees and many species of birds including Willy Wagtail, Kookaburra
Kookaburra
Kookaburras are terrestrial kingfishers native to Australia and New Guinea. They are large to very large, with a total length of . The name is a loanword from Wiradjuri guuguubarra, and is onomatopoeic of its call...
, Magpie
Magpie
Magpies are passerine birds of the crow family, Corvidae.In Europe, "magpie" is often used by English speakers as a synonym for the European Magpie, as there are no other magpies in Europe outside Iberia...
and Cockatoo
Cockatoo
A cockatoo is any of the 21 species belonging to the bird family Cacatuidae. Along with the Psittacidae and the Strigopidae , they make up the parrot order Psittaciformes . Placement of the cockatoos as a separate family is fairly undisputed, although many aspects of the other living lineages of...
to name a few. They give the area an intermittent background soundtrack and can be quite communicative and sometimes emphatic if not occasionally boisterous. Lyrebird
Lyrebird
A Lyrebird is either of two species of ground-dwelling Australian birds, that form the genus, Menura, and the family Menuridae. They are most notable for their superb ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environment. Lyrebirds have unique plumes of neutral coloured...
s can be heard outside of town and Wombats and the occasional Echidna
Echidna
Echidnas , also known as spiny anteaters, belong to the family Tachyglossidae in the monotreme order of egg-laying mammals. There are four extant species, which, together with the platypus, are the only surviving members of that order and are the only extant mammals that lay eggs...
can be seen. Several species of mostly small Reptile such as Lizards live in the area, and whilst the local people have a most approachable charm typical of small towns
Hospitality
Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. Specifically, this includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers...
and are surprisingly diverse given the conservative and historic town facade, the same forthright approach to new acquaintances is however not recommended if you chance upon a Goanna
Goanna
Goanna is the name used to refer to any number of Australian monitor lizards of the genus Varanus, as well as to certain species from Southeast Asia.There are around 30 species of goanna, 25 of which are found in Australia...
or Snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
on one of the many nearby wooded bushwalking tracks as they have a different temperament indeed.
Sport
Hang-gliding and ParaglidingParagliding
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure...
are popular activities and the Mystic Flight Park is located 3 kilometres from town.
Fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
occurs in the rivers and dams in the area and are stocked with Trout from the local hatchery.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
trails exist close to the town centre. The tracks range from technical, fast, singletracks to easy river side rides. Best trails are found within the Baker's Gully area and downhill tracks are located off Mystic Hill, Apex Hill and in the Porepunkah pines on the south side of the Ovens River.
Cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
: The Audax Alpine Classic
Audax Alpine Classic
The Audax Alpine Classic is an Australian bicycle event run every Australia Day weekend in Bright, Victoria and is organised by Audax Australia volunteers. Arguably the most difficult single day cycle event in Australia with the 200 km version covering four steep climbs...
cycle event is run every Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
weekend by Audax Australia
Audax Australia
Audax Australia Cycling Club runs cycling events under the auspices of Audax Club Parisien and . Rides are normally from 50 km to 1200 km in distance and operate throughout Australasia...
with over 2000 cyclists descending on Bright. The 200 km route takes the rider to Falls Creek
Falls Creek
Falls Creek may refer to:* Falls Creek, New South Wales, Australia: a small town on the South Coast, New South Wales* Falls Creek, Victoria, Australia: ski resort* Falls Creek, British Columbia, Canada: a waterfall and creek in Wells Gray Provincial Park...
and back and then a return trip to Mount Buffalo.
The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Ovens & King Football League
Ovens & King Football League
300px|thumb|right|O&K 2007 Thirds Grand Final between Whorouly and North WangarattaThe Ovens & King Football League is a minor country Australian rules football league based in Northeastern Victoria in the vicinity of Wangaratta and more recently Benalla....
.
Golfers play at the Bright Country Golf Club on Back Porepunkah Road.
Local attractions
Local attractions include farms, wineries, historic sites, fruit orchards, restaurants, the beautiful natural landscape, surrounding mountains and more.There are many events held in the Bright township and surrounding areas.
In Spring, Bright holds regular Markets, as well as the Bright Spring Festival, Bright 6 Hour Mountain Bike Event, Bright High Country Horse Endurance Ride, Art Exhibitions, Bright Grand Fireworks Spectacular and Concert, Bright Alpine Four Peaks Mountain Climb (www.brightvic.com/alpineclimb), Harrietville Bluegrass and Traditional Country Music Convention and the Alpine Delight (Audax Cycling Event).
In Summer you can attend the SP Ausnet - Tour of Bright - Road Cycling Race, Christmas Carols at the Bright Art Gallery, Carols by Candlelight at the Bright Sound Shell and the Rotary Waterside at Centenary Park.
There are also many markets in Bright and Harrietville
Harrietville
Harrietville is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Great Alpine Road, in the Alpine Shire. At the 2006 census, Harrietville and the surrounding area had a population of 278....
, as well as the Alpine Valley's Gourmet Weekend and Drive in Movies at Pioneer Park.
Autumn brings the Bright Autumn Festival, the Alpine Classic Golf Tournament, held in Bright, Myrtleford and Wangaratta. The Bright Easter Market is on as well as the Alpine Film Festival.
Winter brings snow to the surrounding peaks and the opening of the Snow Season on Queen's Birthday weekend.
Communication
Mail is delivered every weekday and collection from post boxes is regular.The area is within a mobile phone coverage region for NextG (3G) and GSM. (as of Feb 2008)
A variety of internet access is available including internet cafe style access. ADSL is available in most places.
There are no longer any ADSL1 ports. (as of Jan 2010)
Transport
Road access to town is via the Great Alpine RoadGreat Alpine Road
The Great Alpine Road is a country tourist road in Victoria, Australia, running from Wangaratta in the north to Bairnsdale in the east, and passing through the Australian Alps...
connecting to the Melbourne to Sydney Hume Freeway about 75 kilometres (47 mi) to the northwest or 120 kilometres (75 mi) to the north or through the Murray Valley Highway
Murray Valley Highway
The Murray Valley Highway is a popular tourist route, which follows the south side of the Murray River in Victoria, Australia. The route effectively acts as the northern-most highway in Victoria...
to the northeast, Canberra and the east coast, or along the continuation of the Great Alpine Highway to the southeast of the state.
Air access is via small aircraft landing strips in the area like Mount Hotham Airport
Mount Hotham Airport
Mount Hotham Airport is a small Australian regional airport, which serves the Victorian ski resort of Mount Hotham. The airport opened in 2000, and it is Australia's highest-altitude airport.-Airlines and destinations:-Incidents and accidents:...
75 kilometres (47 mi) by road to the southeast, and Porepunkah Airport.
The town was served by the Bright railway line but this closed in the 1980s. During the late 1990s the line was converted into the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail
Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail
The Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail is a cycling and walking rail trail in northern Victoria, Australia. It extends from Wangaratta to Bright, with a side branch to Beechworth, following the route of the former Bright railway line...
for cyclists.
External links
- Bright - Government tourism site
- Local Government
- Information on "Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail"
- Alpine National Park
- Great Alpine Road - Government tourism site
- Bright Autumn Festival
- North East Victorian Hang Gliding Club