Briagolong is a town in the Australian

state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * ''Our S ...

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, located 20 kilometres north of

Maffra Maffra is a town in Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne. It is in the Shire of Wellington local government area and it is the second most populous city of the Shire. It relies mainly on dairy farming and other agriculture, and is the sit ...

and some 270 kilometres east of

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, in the

Shire of Wellington The Shire of Wellington is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the eastern part of the state. It covers an area of and in June 2018 had a population of 44,019. It includes the towns of Heyfield, Rosedale, Maffra, ...

region of

Gippsland Gippsland is a rural region that makes up the southeastern part of Victoria, Australia, mostly comprising the coastal plains to the rainward (southern) side of the Victorian Alps (the southernmost section of the Great Dividing Range). It cove ...

. At the 2016 census, Briagolong had a population of 1,081.

History

Briagolong Post Office opened on 1 May 1871. The town's principal industry has been timber, and it supplied red gum paving blocks for the streets of

, and stringybark for the flooring in

Australia House The High Commission of Australia in London is the diplomatic mission of Australia in the United Kingdom. It is located in Australia House, a Grade II listed building. It was Australia's first diplomatic mission and is the longest continuously ...

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. A railway branch line from Maffra opened in 1889 and was closed in 1952. The town's local cricket team (the Saints) were crowned Sale-Maffra Cricket Association 2018/19 season premiers. Briagolong has a pub, which serves meals and drinks. It was established in 1880.

Today

Briagolong was the home town of Private Jake Kovco, Australia's first military casualty in the Iraq War. Private Kovco's funeral was held in Briagolong on 2 May 2006, and was attended by Prime Minister

John Howard John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the ...

, Defence Minister

Brendan Nelson Brendan John Nelson (born 19 August 1958) is a business leader and former Australian politician. He served as the federal Leader of the Opposition from 2007 to 2008, going on to serve as Australia's senior diplomat to the European Union and NA ...

, Defence Force Chief

Angus Houston Air Chief Marshal Sir Allan Grant "Angus" Houston, (born 9 June 1947) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force. He served as Chief of Air Force from 20 June 2001 and then as the Chief of the Defence Force from 4 July 20 ...

and Army Chief

Peter Leahy Lieutenant General Peter Francis Leahy, (born 30 October 1952) is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army, whose military career culminated with his appointment as Chief of the Army from 2002 until 2008. He has been director of the N ...

. In conjunction with neighbouring township Boisdale, Briagolong has an Australian Rules football team in the

East Gippsland Football League The East Gippsland Football League is an Australian rules football League in the East Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. History The East Gippsland FL in its present incarnation began in 1974 with the merger of the Gippsland Football Leag ...

. The town's water supply is taken from the Freestone Creek. Popular tourist areas nearby are the swimming areas on the Freestone Creek at Quarry Reserve (4.5 km north of Briagolong) and Blue Pool (10 km north), both on the Freestone Creek Road.

Notable people

Irving Mosquito Irving Mosquito (born 24 August 2000) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by the Essendon Football Club with the 38th pick in t ...

, Australian rules footballer

References

Towns in Victoria (Australia) Towns in Central Gippsland Shire of Wellington {{Gippsland-geo-stub