Wangaratta

Wangaratta, city, northern Victoria, Australia. It lies at the confluence of the Ovens and King rivers, northeast of Melbourne. Its name is derived from an Aboriginal term meaning either “meeting of the rivers” or “home of the cormorants.” The site was first settled in 1837 by a sheepherder, George Faithfull, and was proclaimed a town in 1845. It became a borough in 1863 and a city in 1959. The city is a junction of the Hume and Ovens highways and is also a rail junction, and it serves as a gateway to the Australian Alps. It is a regional centre for the marketing and processing of wool, wheat, grapes, dairy products, tobacco, and flax. Industries include woolen and nylon factories, motor engineering works, and bulk storage of petroleum and gas. Wangaratta is a popular destination for tourists because of its proximity to the vineyards of the King Valley wine region. A high-technology computer facility was established at Wangaratta in 1984. The city is also the site of an Anglican cathedral and the see of a bishop. An Australia Day sports competition is held there each January. Pop. (2001) urban centre, 15,527; (2011) gazetted locality, 17,170.