# Nagambie

Nagambie /nəˈɡæmbi/ is a town in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria, Australia. The city is on the Goulburn Valley Freeway north of Seymour and in the Shire of Strathbogie. As of 2021 census, Nagambie had a population of 2,254.

## History

The Nagambie Region is within the traditional lands of the Taungurung people, who are the first people of the rivers, valleys and mountains in this region. The Taungurung people lived according to the natural cycles and rhythms of the land moving through their country seasonally, occupying the more cooler mountain areas in summer and autumn and the tributaries of the Goulburn River in winter and spring.
The Goulburn River at Nagambie, prior to the formation of the lakes through the creation of the Goulburn Weir, was the site of several lagoons, which along with nearby Reedy lake provided an ideal camping place for the Taungurung people.
The river and the associated tributaries and wetlands provided an abundance of food resources, emus, kangaroos, possums and wombats were hunted by Taungurung for food and clothing. The river ecosystem also provided fresh-water fish, eels, crustaceans and waterfowl.
Trading routes passed through the area and much prized greenstone from a local quarry at Mt Carmel, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north-west of Reedy Creek, was used to make axes. Another well-known greenstone quarry is at Mt William (Woi Wurrung Country) to the south.
Taungurung people travelled between Reedy lake and Mt Carmel for procurement of stone. Conveniently spaced camping places were used to make the journey along the trade route; from Gunn's swamp (now Waranga Basin) to the rock well at Whroo then to Lake Cooper at the foothills of the Mt Carmel Ranges. Taungurung people also obtained quartz and silcrete for the manufacture of tools for hunting and food preparation from Mt Balck (within the Helathcote-Graytown National Park). Today, Taungurung people still live on country and are active in the protection and preservation of their culture and land.
From the time of white settlement, a river crossing was developed on the Goulburn River by overlanders following the route used by explorer Thomas Mitchell. This was later used by the mail route from Melbourne to Sydney, established in 1838. A hotel, church and blacksmith were set up, serving traffic traveling along the river system to Adelaide. The town was surveyed in 1868, with land sales in 1870.
The Post Office opened on 2 May 1870. "Nagambie" was proclaimed as a private town in 1872 and the Nagambie railway station opened in 1880. It is now served by V/Line on the Shepparton Line to Melbourne.
Nagambie sits on the shores of Lake Nagambie, an artificial lake created by the Goulburn Weir in 1891, where rowing regattas and waterskiing tournaments are held.The town holds the Australian Rowing Championships semi-regularly.

## Events and attractions

Nagambie is home to the Nagambie Lakes - which form a regional reservoir, and venue for many state and national rowing championships. The Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre is one of Victoria's major water sports facilities. The venue offers a 2000m, fully buoyed, National Standard rowing and canoeing course.
Nagambie On Water is an annual community event, featuring water themed activities, grape stomping, river to pub races and many other elements. This event is held in March each year.
New Year's Eve Fireworks are also held in the Nagambie Lakes area.
Nagambie Lakes Community Market runs monthly on the bank of Lake Nagambie and a Farmers Market on the fourth Sunday of the month at Tahbilk winery.

## Wine

Nagambie gives its name to the Nagambie Lakes wine region, a subregion of the Goulburn Valley wine region.
The town hosts the Goulburn Valley Vintage Festival in March each year, and the Shiraz Challenge in November. A number of wineries are situated in the area, including Mitchelton, and Tahbilk.

## Highway bypass

The Goulburn Valley Highway was originally routed through the centre of Nagambie, bringing often large volumes of through traffic from Melbourne and Seymour en route to Shepparton and southern New South Wales.
The town was bypassed in 2013 with the completion of the freeway-standard road routed on the eastern side of the town from the previous limit of the freeway to 6km north of Nagambie.
The effect of the removal of through traffic is a dramatically quieter environment. Business and trade in the town generated by vehicle stops has also dried up. This is expected to be taken up by a petrol station and fast-food complex to be located on north and southbound locations on the bypass freeway. Whilst the town has experienced a decline in traffic, there has been recent development of significant housing estates. These include the Elloura Lake Nagambie Development and further estate development in the north and south of the area.
It is now possible to travel from Melbourne to Shepparton on a freeway-standard road without traveling through any of the towns previously served by the Hume and Goulburn Valley highways.

## Education

Nagambie has a Catholic school and a public school.

## Sport

Nagambie Football Club competes in the Kyabram District Football Netball League. Golfers play at the Nagambie Golf Club on the former Goulburn Valley Highway. Nagambie is the birthplace of the champion racehorse Black Caviar.

## Media
### Print

* Nagambie Community Voice
* Euroa Gazette
* Shepparton News
* Seymour Telegraph

### Radio

Community radio heard in Nagambie:
* 103.9 - 103.9 FM Seymour-FM (Community Radio for Northern Mitchell Shire & Strathbogie Shire)
* 88.0 - The Range (Country Music)
* 87.6 - TBA
Shepparton radio heard in Nagambie
* 94.5 - Triple J (ABC)
* 95.3 - Triple M (formerly 3SR FM)
* 96.1 - ABC Classic
* 96.9 - HIT Goulburn Valley (formerly STAR FM)
* 97.7 - ABC Goulburn Murray
* 98.5 - ONE FM (Shepparton Community Radio)

### Television

* ABC (plus ABC HD, ABC TV Plus, ABC Kids, ABC Me & ABC News)
* SBS (plus SBS HD, SBS Viceland, SBS World Movies, SBS Food & NITV)
* Seven (plus 7HD, 7TWO, 7mate & 7flix)
* WIN (plus 9HD, 9Gem, 9Go! & 9Life)
* Southern Cross 10 (plus 10 HD, 10 Bold, 10 Peach & 10 Shake)

## Gallery

* Water tower
* Lake Nagambie
* Railway station and goods yard
* Nagambie Mechanics Institute 002.JPG
* Nagambie Roman Catholic Church
* Anglican Church
* Presbyterian Church
* Bank Building
* Court House
* Library
* Post Office