Alexandra is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located at the junction of the Goulburn Valley Highway (B340) and Maroondah Highway (B360), 26 kilometres west of Eildon, in the Shire of Murrindindi local government area. At the 2006 Census, Alexandra had a population of 2141.
History
The town was settled in the late 1860s, with a Post Office opening on 15 March 1867 (known until 24 April 1867) as Redgate. The town was originally known as Redgate, or Red Gate Diggings. the current name either derives from Alexandra of Denmark, or from three men named Alexander (Alesander, McGregor, Alexander Don, and Alexander Luckie) who discovered gold in the area in 1866.
The railway to Alexandra arrived in the town from Tallarook in 1909, being closed on November 18, 1978.
The Rubicon Tramway connected Alexandra with the village of Rubicon, at the junction of the Rubicon and Royston Rivers.
Alexandra today
Many tourists pass through this town on their way to the Mount Buller ski resort from Melbourne.
The town contains the Timber and Tramway Museum, and the National Trust classified post office and law courts. There is a bush market on the second Sunday of each month, an annual art show at Easter, an agricultural show and rose festival in November, and the Truck, Rod and Ute Show in June. |