View source for Traralgon

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox Australian place | type = city
| name     = Traralgon
| state    = vic
| image    = Traralgon Post Office.jpg
| caption  = [[Traralgon Post Office and Court House]], a heritage-listed landmark in the city.
| coordinates = {{coord|38|11|45|S|146|32|25|E|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_label_position =left
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in City of Latrobe
| use_lga_map = yes
| lga      = City of Latrobe
| postcode = 3844
| est      = 1840s
| pop      = 26,907
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes = <ref name="ABSCensusSAL">{{Census 2021 AUS|name=Traralgon|id=SAL22569 |quick=on|accessdate=2 October 2022}}</ref>
| area = 23.9
| elevation = 60
| elevation_footnotes = (45-75m)
| maxtemp  = 
| mintemp  =
| rainfall =
| county = Australia 
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Morwell|Morwell]]
| fedgov   = [[Division of Gippsland|Gippsland]]
| dist1    = 51
| location1= [[Sale, Victoria|Sale]]
| dist2    = 164
| location2= Melbourne
| dist3    = 119
| location3= Bairnsdale
| near-nw  = [[Tyers, Victoria|Tyers]]
| near-n   = [[Glengarry, Victoria|Glengarry]]
| near-ne  = [[Traralgon East, Victoria|Traralgon East]]
| near-w   = [[Yallourn North, Victoria|Yallourn North]]
| near-e   = [[Traralgon East, Victoria|Traralgon East]]
| near-sw  = [[Morwell, Victoria|Morwell]]
| near-s   = [[Hazelwood North, Victoria|Hazelwood North]]
| near-se  = [[Hazelwood North, Victoria|Hazelwood North]]
}}
'''Traralgon''' ({{IPAc-en|t|r|ə|r|æ|l|g|ə|n}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Traralgon |url=https://www2b.c0.abc.net.au/abcpronunciation-external/Search.aspx#?S=Traralgon |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=ABC Pronounce}}</ref> {{Respell|trəh|RAL|gən}}, {{IPAc-en|local|t|ə|ˈ|ɹ|æ|l|ɡ|ən}} {{respell|tə|RAL|gən}}) is a city located in the east of the [[Latrobe Valley]] in the [[Gippsland]] region of [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia and the most populous city in the [[City of Latrobe]] and the region. The urban population of Traralgon at the {{CensusAU|2021}} was 26,907.<ref name="ABSCensusSAL" /> It is the largest and fastest growing city in the greater Latrobe Valley area, which has a population of 77,168 <ref name=ABSSA>{{cite web|title=2021 Latrobe Valley, Census All persons QuickStats |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/20504|website=Australian Bureau of Statistics|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|access-date=2 October 2022}}</ref> at the 2021 Census and is administered by the City of Latrobe.

==Naming==
The origin of the name Traralgon is unconfirmed. The name was used for the [[pastoral lease]] of the Hobson brothers in 1844, centred on Traralgon Creek, and was alternatively rendered 'Tralgon' by Dr Edumund Hobson.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cuthill |first1=William J |title=The River of Little Fish |url=https://www.traralgonhistory.asn.au/rolf/chapter2.htm |publisher=Traralgon & District Historical Society Inc. |date=1970}}</ref> The town was also spelt "Taralgon" in the earliest records of the Gippsland Times available in 1861.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1861-08-14 |title=POST OFFICE, SALE. |work=Gippsland Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65360960 |access-date=2023-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1861-08-21 |title=POST OFFICE, SALE. |work=Gippsland Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65360987 |access-date=2023-12-06}}</ref> 

The Gippsland Farmers' Journal wrote in 1889 that the town name was originally spelt 'Tarralgon' and that it was the Indigenous name for 'the river of little fish'. <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227352579 |title=Traralgon: Past and Present |newspaper=The Gippsland Farmers' Journal and Traralgon, Heyfield and Rosedale News |issue=273 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=6 December 1889 |accessdate=15 January 2022 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> However, these words are not reflected in modern linguists' knowledge of [[Gunai language|Gunai/Kurnai language]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gardener |first1=P D |title=Names of East Gippsland; their origins, meanings and history |date=1992 |publisher=Ngarak Press |location=Ensay |isbn=1875254072}}</ref> Records of the language show that the words {{lang|unn|wun wun}} or {{lang|unn|wurn wurn}} mean 'river', the words {{lang|unn|dala}} or {{lang|unn|tarlo}} mean 'little', while the words {{lang|unn|kine}} or {{lang|unn|kain}} mean 'fish'. <ref name="fesl">{{Cite book|title=Ganai: a study of the Aboriginal languages of Gippsland based on 19th century materials|last=Fesl|first=Eve |author-link=Eve Fesl |year=1985|pages=159–312}}</ref> It might be possible to combine words into {{lang|unn|tarlo-kain}}, which sounds similar to 'Traralgon', but no such compound word was recorded. 

In 1989, Don Macreadie wrote that [[Paweł Strzelecki]] named Traralgon after [[Taralga]], the hometown of Charlie Tarra, but the statement lacks evidence.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Macreadie |first1=Don |title=The Rosedale Story: Vol 1 |date=1989 | isbn=0731648595 |page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132990671 |title=Exploration of Gippsland. |newspaper=[[Stratford Sentinel And Briagolong Express]] |issue=138 |date=17 July 1914 |accessdate=4 August 2021 |page=3 (Edition 2) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==History==

Traralgon is situated on the traditional lands of the [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous]] [[Gunai people|Gunai/Kurnai]] nation, which includes the lands of the [[Braiakaulung people|Braiakaulung]] clan of Bunjil Kraura, who lived to the north of [[Latrobe River]] (called ''Durt'yowan'' in [[Gunai language]]), as well as the clan of Woollum-Woollum, who lived on the hills to the south of the river and were more affiliated with the [[Brataualung people]].<ref>{{cite wikisource|wslink=Native_Tribes_of_South-East_Australia |chapter=Chapter_7|plaintitle=Native Tribes of South-East Australia|year=1904|page=393|last=Howitt |first=Alfred William }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Fesl |first1=Eve |author-link=Eve Fesl |title=Ganai: a study of the aboriginal languages of Gippsland based on 19th century materials |date=1985 |publisher=Monash University}}</ref>

[[Gunai people|Gunai/Kurnai people]] manufactured stone tools, as long as 5,000 years ago, from [[silcrete]] quarries in the Haunted Hills, west of [[Morwell, Victoria|Morwell]]. Scarred trees and rock sites with axe-grinding grooves are also found in the local area.<ref name="legg92">{{cite book |last1=Legg |first1=S M |title=Heart of the Valley: A History of the Morwell Municipality |date=1992 |publisher=City of Morwell}}</ref> The Gippsland region was inhabited by the Gunai/Kurnai people for a period in excess of 20,000 years, according to evidence of occupation found at the [[New Guinea II cave]] near [[Buchan, Victoria]].<ref>{{Cite book| title = Archaeology of the Dreamtime | last = Flood | first = Josephine | year = 2004 | publisher = J.B Publishing | location = Marleston | page = 25 | isbn = 1-876622-50-4 
}}</ref> In other parts of Victoria evidence of Indigenous occupation has been found for many more thousands of years.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Moyjil site, south-west Victoria, Australia |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria |date=2018 |volume=130 |issue=2 |url=https://www.publish.csiro.au/rs/issue/9309}}</ref>

=== Expeditions ===

The first non-Indigenous visitors to the area of Traralgon included the party of [[Paweł Edmund Strzelecki|Count Paweł Strzelecki]] on their journey from the [[Snowy Mountains]] in April 1840, after Strzelecki had named Australia's highest peak as [[Mount Kosciuszko]]. Charley Tarra, a [[Gandangara|Burra Burra]] man from the NSW town of [[Taralga]], was the Indigenous guide for the party, which included Strzelecki; the New South Wales men James MacArthur and James Riley; and their servants, Irish convict James Nolan<ref>{{cite web |title=Sir Paul Edmund de Strzelecki Expedition |url=https://www.monumentaustralia.org.au/australian_monument/display/30900 |website=Monument Australia |access-date=18 August 2020}}</ref> and African convict John Rent.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Frew |first1=Ron |last2=Frew |first2=Catherine |title=Sounding the Ground: Nineteenth Century Journeys to Tumbarumba and the South East |date=2012|isbn=9780980653137}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Skurjat-Kozek |first1=Ernestyna |title=Strzelecki's team: pioneers of multiculturalism |url=http://www.zrobtosam.com/PulsPol/Puls3/index.php?sekcja=1&arty_id=19542 |website=Puls Polonii |access-date=18 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="legg92" />

The party crossed Latrobe River and travelled along Traralgon Creek to a heavily forested area, where the party was forced to abandon their horses and equipment. The location was commemorated by monument at Traralgon Creek, Koornalla, erected in 1927.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sir PauEdmund de Strzelecki Expedition |url=https://www.monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/landscape/exploration/display/31860-sir-paul-edmund-de-strzelecki-expedition |website=Monument Australia |access-date=18 August 2020}}</ref> The team's rations were reduced to a slice of bacon and a biscuit per day, but Tarra hunted for animals to end their hunger.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Keith Vincent |title=Charley Tarra |url=https://www.eorapeople.com.au/uncategorized/charlie-tarra/ |website=Eora People |date=November 2017 |access-date=1 September 2020}}</ref> They traversed the headwaters of [[Morwell River]], before making a difficult journey across the heavily forested mountain range. They reached [[Samuel Anderson (Australian settler)|Anderson's]] run in [[Western Port]] in May 1840, then walked to Melbourne.<ref name="legg92" />

To honour the men, the mountain range was named the [[Strzelecki Ranges]], part of the forest was named Tarra Valley, later merged into [[Tarra-Bulga National Park]],<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the Park |url=https://friendsoftarrabulga.org.au/park-information/history/ |website=Friends of Tarra-Bulga National Park |date=6 March 2014 |access-date=1 September 2020}}</ref> and the river running from the valley to [[Port Albert]] was named [[Tarra River (Victoria)|Tarra River]]. Strzelecki named the region as Gipps' Land, later becoming [[Gippsland]], in honour of his sponsor [[Governor of New South Wales|NSW Governor]] [[George Gipps]].<ref name="legg92" />

In June 1840, a party consisting of Tarra, Riley, John Rutledge and [[Shoalhaven]] Indigenous man John Pigeon went on a second expedition to retrieve the lost horses and managed to retrieve one, by travelling through the mountains of West Gippsland, across a path that would roughly trace the present-day [[Princes Highway]]. A third expedition was made from Port Albert to Latrobe Valley in March 1841 that included [[William Adams Brodribb|William Brodribb]], Alexander Kinghorne, [[Norman McLeod (Australian politician)|Norman McLeod]] and Kirsopp with Tarra as their guide.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71614721 |title=THE PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY IN AUSTRALIA. |newspaper=[[Southern Australian]] |volume=IV |issue=212 |location=South Australia |date=1 June 1841 |access-date=7 October 2020 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In June 1841, a fourth expedition was made along the same route by William's brother Albert Brodribb, pastoralist Edward Hobson, Dr Edward Barker and four [[Boon wurrung]] men.<ref name="legg92" /><ref>{{cite journal |title=Minor Explorations 1840 and 1841 |journal=The Morwell Historical Society News |date=15 August 1975 |page=16 |url=http://www.morwellhistoricalsociety.org.au/newsletters/Vol21963.pdf}}</ref>

=== Pastoral leases ===

The area around Traralgon was first settled by Europeans in the 1840s. Due to the [[Latrobe Valley]] having relatively high rainfall, the land is very fertile, and farming was quickly established. As with much of central and western Gippsland, this was mainly dairy farming. In the Gippsland region between 1840 and 1860, the population of settlers grew from a few to 2,000 and the recorded Gunai population fell from 2,000 to a handful.<ref name="legg92" />

The first Europeans to take land in Traralgon were the brothers Dr Edmund Hobson and Edward Hobson who purchased a 19,000 acre [[pastoral lease]] in 1844, which they called Traralgon. In April 1844, Edward to a large mob of cattle out from their station near [[Arthur's Seat]] to Traralgon arriving two months later. Albert Brodribb and William Bennett started Hazelwood Station in 1844 and the following year James Rintoul had taken a run in Loy Yang and Thomas Gorringe had taken up a run at Maryvale.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Power |first1=J F |title=Traralgon: A Brief Introductory History (Circa 1995) |url=https://www.traralgonhistory.asn.au/history.htm |website=Traralgon & District Historical Society Inc. |access-date=18 August 2020}}</ref>

=== Township established ===
The township was established in the early 1860s, the first Post Office opening on 1 January 1861.<ref name="a">{{Citation | last = Phoenix Auctions History | title = Post Office List | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=*Traralgon* | access-date = 21 January 2021 }}</ref> In 1877 the [[Gippsland railway line]] from [[Melbourne]] was completed with a [[Traralgon railway station|railway station]] at Traralgon giving the town a major economic boost.

Traralgon was part of the area administered by the Rosedale Roads Board, before the [[Shire of Traralgon]] was established in 1879. In the latter part of the 19th century the Shire grew strongly.
[[Image:Traralgon Post Office.jpg|thumb|alt=Traralgon Post Office|right|The current Post Office building, a local landmark, was completed in 1886]]
It was not until the 1930s however that Traralgon began to move away from a farming based economy. In 1939, [[Amcor|Australian Paper Manufacturers]] established a paper mill at Maryvale, around {{convert|8|km|mi|0}} from Traralgon.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63268400 Maryvale Paper Mill] ''[[Gippsland Times]]'' 25 September 1939 page 3</ref>

Queen [[Elizabeth II]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] visited on 3 March 1954. The president of the Shire of Traralgon, Cr Clem Little met and welcomed the Queen, who was flown by the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] from [[Sale, Victoria|Sale]]. She returned to Melbourne by train.<ref>Chapter 7 [http://www.traralgonhistory.asn.au/rolf/chapter7.htm The River of Little Fish by WJ Cuthill]</ref>

In 1961, Traralgon formed its own borough, the [[City of Traralgon|Borough of Traralgon]] following a decade of lobbying to separate the urban areas of Traralgon from the Shire. Traralgon was proclaimed a city in 1964.

The old town hall and mechanics institute were demolished in 1973.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.traralgonhistory.asn.au/mechanics.htm |title=Traralgon Mechanics Institute |access-date=2012-06-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324181853/http://traralgonhistory.asn.au/mechanics.htm |archive-date=24 March 2012}}</ref>

Further development resulted from the expansion of the [[Energy in Victoria|power generation industry]] following World War II, particularly through the now defunct [[State Electricity Commission of Victoria]]. This included large expansions at [[Yallourn Power Station|Yallourn]] and [[Hazelwood Power Station|Hazelwood]] Power Stations and the construction of the massive [[Loy Yang Power Station]] in the 1970s and 1980s.

An [[Australian Securities & Investments Commission]] information processing centre was established in the early 1990s, at the time employing around 400 people.{{cn|date=January 2023}}

The City of Traralgon and Shire of Traralgon continued a separate existence until they were amalgamated into the Shire of Latrobe in 1994.

Completion of the Loy Yang power stations, extensive voluntary departures{{Vague|date=March 2011}} from the electricity industry and privatisation of the Victorian electricity industry in the early 1990s had devastating effects on the economy of the [[Latrobe Valley]]. Traralgon, with a more diversified economy, suffered to a lesser extent than the neighbouring towns of [[Morwell, Victoria|Morwell]] and [[Moe, Victoria|Moe]] both of which relied almost exclusively on the power stations for their livelihood.

Traralgon grew strongly in the mid 2000s, with a figure of 2.7% making it the largest and fastest growing city in the Latrobe Valley.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/MediaRoom/NewsReleases/Details/Default.aspx?PrintFriendly=1&NewsID=769 |title=Latrobe City Council - Details |access-date=2010-04-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614054826/http://www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/MediaRoom/NewsReleases/Details/Default.aspx?PrintFriendly=1&NewsID=769 |archive-date=14 June 2011}}</ref>

===Heritage listings===
Traralgon contains a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
* 161–165 Franklin Street: [[Traralgon Post Office and Court House]]<ref name=ahd-106141>{{cite AHD|106141|Traralgon Post Office|fn=2/10/275/0014|access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref>
* Queens Parade: [[Traralgon Engine Shed and Turntable]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/12528 | title=Traralgon Engine Shed and Turntable | publisher=Victorian Heritage Council | work=Victorian Heritage Database (Victorian Heritage Register) | access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref>
* Victory Park, Mill Street: [[Azarole Hawthorn Tree, Traralgon|Azarole Hawthorn Tree]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/55874 | title=Azarole Hawthorn Tree | publisher=Victorian Heritage Council | work=Victorian Heritage Database (Victorian Heritage Register) | access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Traralgon is situated on expansive flat land in the Traralgon Creek valley catchment between the [[Great Dividing Range]] in the north and the [[Strzelecki Ranges]] in the south.  The Traralgon Creek runs through the city's centre and its green belt separates its eastern and western suburban areas.  The urban area is hemmed to the south east by the Loy Yang Open Cut.

=== Urban Structure ===
[[File:Stockland Traralgon entrance.JPG|thumb|Stockland Traralgon in the CBD]]
Traralgon is part of the Latrobe Valley tri-city urban area, a small area of industry and agricultural land separates it from neighbouring Morwell.  Traralgon together with adjacent Morwell forms an urban area with an estimated population of 41,984 as at June 2018.<ref name=ABSSUA>{{cite web|title=3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Significant Urban Area, 2008 to 2018|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02017-18|website=Australian Bureau of Statistics|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|date=27 March 2019|access-date=25 October 2019}} Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.</ref> In the five years prior, the urban area had experienced a modest average annual growth in population of 0.5%.<ref name=ABSSUA/> The Traralgon portion the combined Morwell area had a population of 27,958,<ref name=ABSSA2>{{cite web|title=3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2016: Population Estimates by Statistical Area Level 2 (ASGS 2016), 2017 to 2018 |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02017-18?OpenDocument|website=Australian Bureau of Statistics|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|date=27 March 2019|access-date=4 November 2019}} Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.</ref> also at June 2018. Greater Traralgon includes localities such as Traralgon, the suburb of Traralgon East and the relatively sparsely populated satellite localities of [[Hazelwood North, Victoria|Hazelwood]] and Traralgon South to the south, and [[Tyers, Victoria|Tyers]] and [[Glengarry, Victoria|Glengarry]] to the north.

The Traralgon [[central business district]] is centred around Seymour and Franklin Streets. An indoor shopping mall called [[Traralgon Centre Plaza]] was opened in 1985.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jimenez |first1=Cher |title=Make way for Traralgon plaza |url=https://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/4200310/make-way-for-traralgon-plaza/ |publisher=Latrobe Valley Express |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-date=10 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010095419/https://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/4200310/make-way-for-traralgon-plaza/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Commercial and light industry sprawl along most of the eastern stretch of the Princes Highway. Notable heritage buildings include the Post Office and Courthouse erected in 1886 and Ryans Hotel erected in 1914, both in Franklin Street.

=== Climate ===
Traralgon experiences an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb''). Nights in Traralgon are about 2&nbsp;°C colder than in [[Melbourne]]<ref>{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_086282_All|site_name=Melbourne Airport|access-date=<!-- February 2014 -->|date=February 2014}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport, 1984–2022); 56 m AMSL; 38.21° S, 146.47° E
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|Jan record high C = 45.4
|Feb record high C = 46.3
|Mar record high C = 40.4
|Apr record high C = 35.0
|May record high C = 26.7
|Jun record high C = 23.5
|Jul record high C = 21.8
|Aug record high C = 26.8
|Sep record high C = 31.0
|Oct record high C = 35.1
|Nov record high C = 38.6
|Dec record high C = 42.2
|year record high C =
|Jan high C = 26.8
|Feb high C = 26.6
|Mar high C = 24.5
|Apr high C = 20.6
|May high C = 16.9
|Jun high C = 14.2
|Jul high C = 13.7
|Aug high C = 14.8
|Sep high C = 17.0
|Oct high C = 19.6
|Nov high C = 22.1
|Dec high C = 24.5
|year high C = 
|Jan low C = 13.0
|Feb low C = 12.9
|Mar low C = 11.4
|Apr low C = 8.8
|May low C = 6.4
|Jun low C = 4.3
|Jul low C = 3.7
|Aug low C = 4.4
|Sep low C = 5.9
|Oct low C = 7.5
|Nov low C = 9.6
|Dec low C = 11.3
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = 1.8
|Feb record low C = 1.9
|Mar record low C = 1.9
|Apr record low C = -0.5
|May record low C = -2.8
|Jun record low C = -3.6
|Jul record low C = -4.8
|Aug record low C = -3.4
|Sep record low C = -2.6
|Oct record low C = -2.3
|Nov record low C = 0.6
|Dec record low C = 1.7
|year record low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 49.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 42.1
|Mar precipitation mm = 47.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 56.7
|May precipitation mm = 54.5
|Jun precipitation mm = 64.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 63.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 67.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 74.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 71.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 75.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 65.2
|year precipitation mm = 740.9
|Jan precipitation days = 9.4
|Feb precipitation days = 8.7
|Mar precipitation days = 10.9
|Apr precipitation days = 13.1
|May precipitation days = 15.7
|Jun precipitation days = 18.3
|Jul precipitation days = 19.1
|Aug precipitation days = 19.1
|Sep precipitation days = 17.0
|Oct precipitation days = 15.0
|Nov precipitation days = 13.4
|Dec precipitation days = 12.0
|year precipitation days = 171.7
|source 1 =<ref name="abm" >{{cite web
| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_085280.shtml | title = Climate statistics for Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport) | publisher = Australian Bureau of Meteorology }}</ref>
|date=30 April 2023
}}

From 9 June 2021 Traralgon was one of the hardest-hit towns with 200 homes evacuated when an [[east coast low]] weather system caused widespread flash flooding across [[Gippsland]].<ref name="abc-vic-floods-june'21-2nd-dead">{{cite news |title=Woman's body found in floodwater as Victoria's storm toll rises, further rain expected overnight |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-11/victoria-wild-weather-floods-gippsland/100207276 |access-date=13 June 2021 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 June 2021 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

== Economy ==
[[File:Loy Yang A power station.jpg|thumb|[[Loy Yang Power Station]]]]
The economy is primarily driven by the [[primary sector]], natural resources and the [[secondary sector]] including [[coal mining]], processing and [[Fossil-fuel power station|fossil-fuel power generation]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economy.id.com.au/Default.aspx?id=294&pg=12000|title=Economic profile  - Latrobe City Council |website=economy.id.com.au | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031104323/https://economy.id.com.au/Default.aspx?id=294&pg=12000 | archive-date=2012-10-31}}</ref> for the [[National Electricity Market]].  Along with electricity production, Traralgon benefits from the mining for [[oil]] and [[natural gas]] in the nearby [[Bass Strait]] fields.

A significant [[forestry industry]] operates including logging of both plantation and natural forest timber, The largest [[paper mill]] in Australia is located nearby in Maryvale and provides local employment for over 2,000 people.

The local [[agriculture]] industry is involved in the production of [[wool]] and [[dairy]] products, as well as [[vegetable]] growing.

The [[tertiary sector of the economy]] is also important for employment with major government administration offices for the [[Australian Securities & Investments Commission]], [[Department of Health & Human Services (Victoria)|Department of Health & Human Services]], [[Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning]] and [[Environment Protection Authority (Victoria)|Environment Protection Authority]].

==Geothermal energy==
The Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre in Traralgon is the first public aquatic facility in Victoria to incorporate a deep-bore geothermal heating system.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/Home/Major_Projects/Latrobe_Valley_Sports_and_Community_Initiative/Gippsland_Regional_Aquatic_Centre/Geothermal_Heating_Project | title=Geothermal Heating Project | website=www.latrobe.vic.gov.au}}</ref> The system taps in to the aquifer below ground in Traralgon at a depth of more than 600 metres where the ground water is about 65 degrees Celsius.

==Education==
Traralgon features a number of primary and secondary schools, including state, catholic and independent schools.

The local primary schools include Grey Street Primary School (formerly Traralgon Primary School), Kosciuszko Street Primary School, Liddiard Road Primary School, Stockdale Road Primary School, St Michaels Primary School, St Gabriels Primary School, [[Chairo Christian School]] (formerly Flinders Christian Community College]) and St Pauls Anglican Grammar School. [[St Paul's Anglican Grammar School]] and [[Chairo Christian School]] are also secondary schools. In addition Traralgon has the Latrobe Special Developmental School catering for students from 4.5 to 18 years of age with an intellectual and physical disability.

The local government secondary school, [[Traralgon College]], has two campuses, the junior campus (years 7 & 8) located on Liddiard Rd in Traralgon's east, with the senior campus (years 9–12) on Grey St in Traralgon's west. There is also a Catholic secondary school, [[Lavalla Catholic College]]. Lavalla has two campuses in Traralgon's West end, and a third campus in Newborough. The junior campus, St Paul's, neighbours Traralgon College's senior campus on Grey St. The senior campus, Kildare, is located in Kosciuszko St. Chairo Christian School on Liddiard Rd is a P– 8 school.

A number of Traralgon families also send their children to the three independent Anglican grammar schools in the region, two of which are about 40 minutes drive from Traralgon: St. Paul's Anglican Grammar School, which has a campus in Traralgon as well as Warragul, or [[Gippsland Grammar School]] in Sale.

TAFE and University education is also available within the region. Traralgon is a 15-minute drive from [[Federation University Australia, Gippsland campus|Federation University Australia's Gippsland Campus]], located in the neighbouring town of Churchill. Traralgon is also home to one of a number of campuses for the region's TAFE provider, TAFE Gippsland.

== Sport ==
[[File:2010 GL - Moe v Traralgon 3.JPG|thumb|Australian rules football GFL match in 2010 between Traralgon and Moe]]
[[Australian rules football]] is popular.  There are two senior clubs, the Traralgon Maroons (which briefly competed in the [[Victorian Football League]] between 1996–1997) currently competing in the [[Gippsland Football League]] and Traralgon-Tyers United competing in the [[North Gippsland Football League]]. There is also a junior league, Traralgon and District Junior Football League, with most games played from the West End Sporting Complex.

[[Cricket]] is also popular, with a local league, the Traralgon and District Cricket Association (TDCA) operating.

[[Soccer]] is represented by two clubs - [[Traralgon City SC|Traralgon City]] and [[Traralgon Olympians SC|Traralgon Olympians]] - who both play in the [[Victorian Regional Leagues#Latrobe Valley Soccer League|Latrobe Valley Soccer League]]. The home grounds are Harold Preston Reserve and Harold Preston Park respectively.

There is a local [[basketball]] league, the Traralgon Basketball Association with a stadium at the Traralgon Sports Complex. The Traralgon Sports Stadium played host to preliminary round games of the [[Basketball at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Basketball competition]] during the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] which were held in [[Melbourne]].

The local [[baseball]] team is the Traralgon Redsox.

Traralgon has a [[Thoroughbred racing in Australia|horse racing club]], the Latrobe Valley Racing Club, which schedules two race meetings a year including the Cup meeting in December.<ref name = "RaceClub">{{Citation | last = Country Racing Victoria | title = Latrobe Valley Racing Club | url = http://www.countryracing.com.au/index.php?option=com_club_info&club=45&Itemid=80 | access-date = 2009-05-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080728163916/http://countryracing.com.au/index.php?option=com_club_info&club=45&Itemid=80 | archive-date = 28 July 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

The Traralgon Greyhound Racing Club holds regular [[Greyhound racing in Australia|greyhound racing]] meetings at Glenview Park. The first meeting was held on 28 June 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://traralgon.grv.org.au/about-us/|title=About Us|date=24 November 2013 |publisher=Greyhound Racing Victoria Traralgon|access-date=15 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="dogs">{{Citation | last = Greyhound Racing Victoria | title = Traralgon | url = http://traralgon.grv.org.au/index.html | access-date = 2009-04-15 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090331093547/http://traralgon.grv.org.au/index.html | archive-date = 31 March 2009}}</ref>

Golfers play at the course of the Traralgon Golf Club on the Princes Highway.<ref name = "golf">{{Citation  | author= Golf Select | title = Traralgon | url = http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=329 | access-date = 2009-05-11 }}</ref>

The Traralgon Harriers are a running club that runs 5 or 6&nbsp;km races every Thursday night and also organise Victoria's oldest marathon, the [[Traralgon Marathon]], held every June.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://traralgonharriers.org.au/|title=Traralgon Harriers: Home - Running since 1967|website=traralgonharriers.org.au}}</ref>

The Latrobe Valley Cycling club hold road and track racing events on most weeks throughout the year.

Traralgon Pistol Club and Traralgon small bore rifle Club also located in the town.

=== Entertainment ===
The entertainment precinct which spans Kay, Grey and Franklin Streets attracts people from surrounding towns to several nightclubs, bars and restaurants located there.

==Local media==

===Newspapers===

The weekly ''[[Latrobe Valley Express]]'' newspaper is delivered to all homes on Wednesday nights, in Traralgon, [[Morwell]] and [[Moe, Victoria|Moe]]. The ''[[Traralgon Record]]'' newspaper has been digitised from 1886 to 1932 as part of the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program.<ref>{{cite web|title=Traralgon Record (Traralgon, Vic. : 1886–1932)|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-title135|publisher=Trove|access-date=29 November 2013}}</ref>

Melbourne Newspapers such as ''[[The Weekly Times]]'', ''[[The Age]]'' and the ''[[Herald Sun]]'' and national newspapers like ''[[The Australian]]'', ''[[The Saturday Paper]]'', and the ''[[Australian Financial Review]]'' are also available.

===Television===
The area was the first in Australia to receive its own regional television station, [[GLV-10]] Gippsland (now Southern Cross 10), when it launched on 9 December 1961.

Programs from the three main commercial television networks ([[Seven Network|Seven]], [[Nine Network|Nine]] and [[Network Ten|Ten]]) are all re-broadcast into [[Latrobe Valley]] by their regional affiliates – [[Seven Network|Seven]] ([[AMV (TV station)|AMV]]), [[WIN Television|WIN]] ([[VTV (TV station)|VTV]]) and [[Network 10]] ([[GLV/BCV|GLV]]). All broadcast from the [[Latrobe Valley]] transmitter at [[Strzelecki Ranges#Vegetation|Mount Tassie]]. All the commercial stations are based in [[Traralgon, Victoria|Traralgon]] and have local commercials placed on their broadcasts.

Local news is available on all three commercial networks:
*[[VTV (TV station)|WIN]] broadcasts a half-hour ''[[WIN News]]'' bulletin each weeknight at 5:30pm, produced from studios in [[Wollongong]]. 
*[[Network 10]] and [[Seven Network|Seven]] broadcast short local news and weather updates throughout the day, produced and broadcast from Seven's [[Canberra]] studios and Ten's [[Tasmania, Australia|Tasmanian]] studios.
[[Nine Network|Nine]] previously produced a local news bulletin branded ''Nine News Gippsland'' and later ''Nine News Local'' for a brief period between 2017 and 2021 that aired on the [[10 (Southern Cross Austereo)|Southern Cross Austereo]] primary channel when it was previously affiliated with Nine.

Both national [[Public broadcasting|public broadcasters]], [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] ([[ABC TV (Australian TV channel)|ABC TV]]) and [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] ([[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS TV]]) are broadcast into the Latrobe Valley as well, via [[Strzelecki Ranges#Vegetation|Mount Tassie]], as well as from the Dandenong Ranges transmitters located east of Melbourne.

Additional digital multi-channels broadcast by all the networks in addition to the ones listed above are available on the digital service called [[Freeview (Australia)|Freeview]] to viewers in Traralgon and the Gippsland/Latrobe Valley region. These channels include HD simulcasts of the primary channel (available on channels 20, 30, 50, 60 and 80). As well as [[ABC Family (Australian TV channel)|ABC Family]], [[ABC Entertains]], [[ABC News (Australian TV channel)|ABC News]], [[SBS Viceland]], [[SBS World Movies]], [[10 Bold Drama]], [[10 Peach Comedy]], [[Nickelodeon (Australian TV channel)|Nickelodeon]], [[7two]], [[7mate]], [[7flix]], [[7Bravo|7bravo]], [[9Gem]], [[9Go!]], [[9Life]] and [[Sky News Australia|Sky News Regional]].

Television transmissions from [[Mount Dandenong (Victoria)|Mount Dandenong]] for the Melbourne market (Seven, Nine and Ten) can also be received in [[digital terrestrial television|digital]] in Traralgon with a suitable roof-top antenna.

Subscription television service [[Foxtel]] (previously [[Austar]] until 2014) is available via satellite.

===Radio===

There are two radio stations with studios located in Traralgon – [[TRFM]] (99.5&nbsp;MHz) and [[Gold 1242]], both owned by [[Ace Radio]]. The FM station is broadcast along with the television channels from [[Strzelecki Ranges#Vegetation|Mount Tassie]] while [[Gold 1242]] is broadcast from an AM transmitter near [[Sale, Victoria|Sale]]. [[Warragul]] radio stations [[Triple M Gippsland|Triple M]] (97.9&nbsp;MHz) and [[3GG]] (531&nbsp;kHz) also service this region.

Most [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] stations are rebroadcast locally and available in Traralgon, along with [[ABC Radio Melbourne|774 ABC Melbourne]] which is able to be received directly from [[Melbourne]] and the local [[ABC Gippsland]] station (100.7&nbsp;MHz). Some Melbourne stations both on the AM band and the FM band can be heard in the more elevated parts of Traralgon, however DAB+ is not available without a vertically polarized roof-top antenna.

Community radio stations Gippsland FM (104.7&nbsp;MHz) based in [[Morwell]] and Life FM (103.9&nbsp;MHz) based in [[Sale, Victoria|Sale]] are also broadcast into the Latrobe Valley and can be heard in Traralgon.

==Transport==
[[Road transport]] and the [[motor vehicle]] is the main form of transport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://profile.id.com.au/Default.aspx?id=294&pg=117&gid=210&type=enum&prn=1 |title=Method of travel to work - Traralgon Structure Plan - Latrobe City Council Community Profile |website=profile.id.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727132610/http://profile.id.com.au/Default.aspx?id=294&pg=117&gid=210&type=enum&prn=1 |archive-date=2011-07-27}}</ref> The [[Princes Highway]] runs through the city and close to the CBD which received heavy regional traffic (although a Traralgon Bypass road is undergoing planning<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/RoadProjects/PlanningAndProposals/Regional/PrincesFreewayTraralgonBypass.htm |title=Princes Freeway - Traralgon Bypass : VicRoads |access-date=2010-04-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227094014/http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/RoadProjects/PlanningAndProposals/Regional/PrincesFreewayTraralgonBypass.htm |archive-date=27 February 2011}}</ref>).  The [[Hyland Highway]] also originates at Traralgon.

[[Rail transport]] includes both [[passenger rail]] and [[Freight rail transport|freight rail]]. The city's only station is [[Traralgon railway station]] which is on the [[Gippsland railway line]] served by [[V/Line]] services from [[Southern Cross railway station|Melbourne]] to [[Bairnsdale railway station|Bairnsdale]].<ref>[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1824 Traralgon - Melbourne] [[Public Transport Victoria]]</ref> Victoria's electronic ticketing system, [[Myki]], was implemented on rail services between Traralgon and Melbourne on 8 July 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Myki to start on VLine Commuter Services|url=http://www.vline.com.au/about/news/mediareleases/96766932/Article.aspx|publisher=VLine Pty Ltd.|access-date=2013-08-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827131931/http://www.vline.com.au/about/news/mediareleases/96766932/Article.aspx|archive-date=27 August 2013}}</ref>

Latrobe Valley Buslines provides local services around Traralgon and other cities in the Latrobe Valley.

[[Latrobe Valley Airport]] is located close to Traralgon in nearby Morwell and provides [[general aviation]].

Traralgon has a minimal [[cycling infrastructure|bicycle infrastructure]], with few [[segregated cycle facilities]]. An exception is the 63-kilometre-long [[Gippsland Plains Rail Trail]] which connects Traralgon to [[Stratford, Victoria|Stratford]] via [[Cowwarr]], [[Heyfield]], [[Tinamba]] and [[Maffra]]. A new cycling and walking path was opened in 2020 between Traralgon and Morwell and with a connection to the Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH).

==Notable people==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
'''Sport'''
* [[Edgar Dunbar]] – Australian Rules footballer
* [[Harold Dunbar]] – Australian Rules footballer
* [[Hugh Dunbar]] – Australian Rules footballer
* [[Nicole Faltum]] – cricketer
* [[Kristin Godridge]] – tennis player
* [[Fran Hammond]] – basketballer
* [[Russell Madden (Australian rules footballer)|Russell Madden]] – Australian rules footballer
* [[Tim Membrey]] – Australian Rules footballer
* [[Jenna O'Hea]] – basketballer
* [[Len Petch]] – Australian Rules footballer
* [[Joe Price (footballer)|Joe Price]] – Australian Rules footballer
* [[Bernie Quinlan]] – Australian Rules footballer
* [[Ted Riches]] – Australian Rules footballer
* [[Graham Rowley (cyclist)|Graham Rowley]] – cyclist
* [[Jaz Shelley]] – basketballer
* [[Ruby Storm]] – Paralympic swimmer
* [[Michael Voss]] – Australian Rules Footballer
* [[Jack White (basketball)|Jack White]] – basketballer
{{col-break}}
'''Other'''
* [[Gord Bamford]] – Australian-Canadian country music singer
* [[Shannon Barnett]] – musician
* [[Paul Edbrooke]] – politician
* [[Tim Hein]] – Minister, University Theology Lecturer, podcaster, guitarist
* [[Frank Macfarlane Burnet|Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet]] – scientist, recipient of 1960 [[Nobel Prize in medicine]]
* [[Kristy McBain]] – politician
* [[Derek Muller]] – science communicator
* [[Danny O'Brien (politician)|Danny O'Brien]] – politician
* [[John Pesutto]] – politician
* [[Irwin Thomas]] – musician, formerly known as Jack Jones, of "Southern Sons")
* [[W. F. Waters|Bill Waters]] ([[Scouting in Victoria|Headquarters]] – [[Scout Commissioner|Commissioner]] for Rovers for 35 years, namesake of [[Rovering in Victoria#W.F Waters Award|W.F Waters Award]])
* [[Eva West]] – accountant
* [[Thomas Headon]] – musician
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.traralgonhistory.asn.au/ Traralgon Historical Society]
* [http://www.latrobe.vic.gov.au Latrobe City Website]
* [http://home.vicnet.net.au/~mgfhs/ Mid Gippsland Family History Society]
* [http://www.traralgon.com.au Traralgon Visitor Guide – Traralgon.com.au]

{{Towns in the City of Latrobe}}
{{Cities of Australia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Traralgon| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:City of Latrobe]]