Lake Hume History

The town that moved in the 1950's – Tallangatta is conveniently located on the edge of Lake Hume and only a short drive from Albury/Wodonga.

Before Lake Hume existed, the Mitta Mitta River, Tallangatta Creek, and the Murray River flowed through the landscape, supporting the establishment of early settlements. Settlers arrived in the late 1830s after securing leases from the Crown to graze and farm the land.

The first settlement of Tallangatta was established at Tatonga but was soon moved to the junction of the Mitta Mitta River and Tallangatta Creek. Due to flooding, the settlement was relocated again to a site beside Tallangatta Creek, east of the river, where the town was officially named Tallangatta in 1854.

The valley floors, covered with fertile river flats and river red gums, were impacted by recurring droughts in the late 1800s, highlighting the need for a water storage system to capture winter and spring flows from the upper catchment for use in drier months. This would ensure a reliable water supply, supporting irrigation and settlement growth.

In the early 1900s, discussions between the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia led to an agreement to regulate and share River Murray waters. On November 28, 1919, work began on the Hume Dam to create the Hume Reservoir (also known as Lake Hume).

The dam took 17 years to complete, with the first filling occurring in 1924. This did not immediately affect Tallangatta. The creation of the reservoir did however required reclaiming land along the valleys and waterways. For many people, this meant their land—along with farmls, dwellings, and emerging townships—were encroached upon by the rising water levels.

Along the Murray River, rising water levels prompted the construction of the Bethanga Bridge in 1927. A bigger, higher bridge than the Talgarno Bridge further upstream. After many years of campaigning in the late 1800s and it's construction in 1895, the approaches of the 'Bridge to the Moon' were first submerged in 1929.

Yet, the intention was always to increase capacity. With the return of services men and women after WWII, discussion on moving Tallangatta began as the site would be impacted and would soon be below the water line of a Lake Hume at full capacity.

Tallangatta & Old Tallangatta

Tallangatta is famously known as the ‘town that moved in the 1950s.’ In order to facilitate the expansion of Lake Hume, the town was relocated eight kilometers to the west, to an area now called Bolga. Today, part of the original township, referred to as Old Tallangatta, still remains. Learn more about the history of Old Tallangatta and the present-day offerings of Tallangatta here.

Bridge to the Moon

The communities of Bethanga, Bellbridge, Talgarno, Granya, and the entire Upper Murray region benefited greatly from the installation of the Talgarno Bridge in 1895. The bridge reduced travel time to Albury by up to a full day. Explore Lake Hume and the Murray River along the Great River Road to discover more about this scenic and historic area.