Tangambalanga (ˈtæŋɡəmbəlæŋɡə), or Tangam for short, is a small town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. It is located approximately 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) south-east of the regional centre of Wodonga, in the Kiewa Valley

Kiewa River

The Kiewa River is a major tributary of the Murray River in Australia.The river's headwaters include Victoria's highest mountain, Mount Bogong, and wind their way north-west about 100 kilometres, gradually slowing before joining the Murray east of Albury....

, and 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the Hume Weir. The residential district located near the intersection with the Kiewa Valley Highway

Kiewa Valley Highway

Kiewa Valley Highway traverses alpine regions of Victoria, Australia for a distance of . In the 1950s the road was sealed and realigned to Mount Beauty to permit the transport of materials for the construction of the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme...

 is known as "Kiewa", with Tangambalanga proper beginning on the other side of the small valley flood plain. 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,...

, Tangambalanga had a population of 439.

The town's name is derived from the Aboriginal Pallangaganmiddah Tribe's word (Tan-gam-bool-am) for the white clawed lobster, Murray crayfish

Murray crayfish

The Murray crayfish, Euastacus armatus, is a species of freshwater crayfish endemic to Australia that belongs to the family Parastacidae. The Murray crayfish has the largest geographic range of any of the Euastacus crayfish in Australia, being found in the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers as well as...

. Tangambalanga Post Office opened on 1 December 1911.

Situated in the rolling hills of the valley, the town exists around the dairy and cheese factory of the Murray-Goulburn dairy cooperative, which processes milk for the fresh milk market, as well as butter and cheese.
The town also contains a child care centre, kindergarten, swimming pool, football and cricket fields, vet clinic, mechanic, the Kiewa Valley Primary School, two general stores, and a pub

Australian pubs

A public house in Australia is an establishment performing many functions, often serving alcoholic beverages, meals, and providing basic accommodation.-Origin:...

. Most shopping is done in Albury-Wodonga

Albury-Wodonga

Albury-Wodonga is the broad settlement incorporating the twin Australian cities of Albury and Wodonga, which are separated geographically by the Murray River and politically by a state border: Albury on the north of the river is part of New South Wales while Wodonga on the south bank is in...

, and many residents commute to the larger centre for work.