WikiPortallus: Mt Gambier

Before European settlement, the Buandig (or Boandik) people were the original Aboriginal inhabitants of the area. They called it 'ereng balam' or 'egree belum', meaning 'home of the eagle hawk'.^[4]

The peak of the extinct Mount Gambier crater was sighted in 1800 by Lieutenant James Grant from the survey brig, HMS Lady Nelson, and named for Lord James Gambier, Admiral of the Fleet.

The Henty brothers who owned large holdings in Portland, Western Victoria claim to the land, were forced to retreat when the lands were granted to Evelyn Sturt, the brother of the explorer Charles Sturt. Industries soon began to appear. The Post Office opened on September 22, 1846, ^[5] John Byng built the Mount Gambier Hotel in 1847, and Dr Edward Wehl arrived in 1849 to begin a flour-milling operation.

Hastings Cunningham founded "Gambierton" in 1854 by subdividing a block of 77 acres. From 1861 to 1878 the Post Office was known by this name before reverting to Mount Gambier. Local government appeared in 1863 when Dr Wehl, who now owned a substantial millhouse on Commercial Road, was elected chairman of the District Council of Mount Gambier. In December 1864 this became the District Council of Mount Gambier West and, at the same time, a separate District Council of Mount Gambier East was formed.

Incorporation in 1876 saw a further division, with the creation of the Town Council and Mr. John Watson elected Mayor. Mount Gambier was governed in this fashion until 1932, when the District Council of East and West merged to form a single District Council of Mount Gambier once more.

On 9 December 1954, Mount Gambier was officially declared a city, and is now widely recognised as having the prestigious title of most important centre in south-east South Australia. ^[6]

Residents

According to the 2006 Census the population of the Mount Gambier census area was 23,494 people, making it the largest urban area in the state outside of Adelaide, and the 50th largest urban area in Australia. Approximately 51.7% of the population were female, 84.9% are Australian born, over 91.5% of residents are Australian citizens and only 1.6% were native born indigenous people. The most popular industries for employment were Log Sawmilling and Timber Dressing (8%), School Education (4.8%) and Retail Trade (3.8%), while the unemployment rate is approx. 7%. The median weekly household income is AUD$814 or more per week, compared with $924 in Adelaide. 26.9% of the population identify themselves as being free of religion, a lower 21.5% regard themselves as Catholic.

2007 population estimates have Mount Gambier's population at 23,640, an increase of 146 people or 0.6%. ^[7]

Economy

Tourism

One of Mount Gambier's main tourism draw-cards is its location upon the slopes of a maar volcano of the same name, Mount Gambier, comprising several craters, part of the Newer Volcanics Province complex of volcanoes. One of these contains a huge lake of high-quality artesian drinking water which changes colour with the seasons. In winter, it is a steel grey and then changes to a spectacular cobalt blue in the summer, giving rise to its name, Blue Lake. This 70-metre deep lake also accommodates a range of unusual aquatic flora and fauna, in particular fields of large stromatolites.

The region has many water-filled caves and sinkholes which attract cave divers from around the globe, and such places as Ewens Ponds, Tantanoola Caves, Umpherston Sinkhole, Cave Gardens and Engelbrecht Cave can all be visited by tourists. Within a half hour drive of Mount Gambier one can also experience the wineries of the Coonawarra, pine plantation tours, shipwreck beaches, and river fishing.

Education

The town is serviced by five Reception to Year 7 (R-7) Primary schools, Reidy Park Primary School, Mount Gambier North Primary School, McDonald Park, Melalueuca Park and Mulga Street Primary School. Two colleges offer Reception to Year 12 study Tenison Woods College and St Martins Lutheran College. There are two High Schools for Year 8 to 12, Mount Gambier High School and Grant High School. TAFE SA has a campus in Mount Gambier providing an extensive variety of vocational study. The Mount Gambier TAFE SA campus also incorporates a UniSA campus.

Sport

There is also a range of different sporting leagues in Mount Gambier and surrounding regions. Such sports are soccer, netball, basketball, tennis, hockey, cricket, swimming clubs and other sports.

Politics

State & Federal

Mount Gambier is part of the state electoral district of Mt Gambier, which has been held since 1997 by Independent Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, and Minister for Forests, Rory McEwen. The seat is held by a margin of 12.2%. In federal politics, the city is part of the division of Barker, and has been represented by Liberal MP Patrick Secker since 1998. Barker is held with a margin of 19.10% and is considered safe-liberal. The results shown are from the largest polling station in Mount Gambier — which is located at Mount Gambier High School, on Brownes Road.

Local

Mt Gambier

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History