Orbost

In 1842 ^[2] Peter Imlay founded a farm on local pastures. 3 years later, Norman MacLeod bought the farm, renaming it Orbost by the name of a place on the Isle of Skye off the coast of Scotland ^[3] . In 1876, the Cameron family settled here, followed by other farmers, mostly Scottish immigrants. On December 1, 1880, the Newmerill Post Office opened, 3 years later renamed the Orbost Office. In 1890, Orbost officially received the rights of urban settlement; a bridge was built across the Snowy River, a telegraph was conducted ^[3] . Even earlier, in 1882, the first sawmill began work.

Since the 1890s, timber was exported from the city by river. In 1916, Orbost and Melbourne were connected by a railway, which contributed not only to the further agrarian development of the surrounding lands, but also to an increase in the consumption of forest resources by processing them into sleepers ^[3] .

For most of the 20th century, Orbost remained a small town, the main life of which was associated with the forestry industry and agriculture. In the 1950s - 1960s new sawmills were opened, for the work of which deforestation began to the north and east of the city. By the 1980s, due to deforestation, a threat of environmental disaster loomed over these places ^[3] . To reduce the harmful effects of industrial development of forest resources, part of the forests was transferred to the status of a national park. This, in turn, caused a decrease in production, loss of jobs and outflow of the population from the city. From the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. Orbost's population declined from 4,000 to 2,000. ^[3] The railway, closed in 1987, is now turned into a bicycle path.

According to the 2016 census, , 2227 people lived in Orbost, of whom 48.3% were men, 51.7% were women. The average age was 52 years ^[1] .

The city has 546 families; number of children - 0.5 per family. If we take only those families with children, then the number of children will be 1.8 children per family ^[1] .

In Orbost, 1,197 dwellings are registered; on average, 2.1 people per apartment / house ^[one]

Orbost is located in the east of Victoria, on the banks of the Snowy River , at the point where the No. 1 Princesa Highway runs across the river . Distance to the sea - less than 10 km in a straight line to the south.

Highway A1 connects the city with both Melbourne (and further with Adelaide ) and Sydney .

From 1916 to 1987 ^[4] , the Orbost Railway operated through which you could get to the state capital - Melbourne.

Through Orbost, the intercity buses of the state carrier V / Line follow , where you can get to Canberra , Bairnsdale , Melbourne and other cities ^{[5] [6] [7]} .

There is an airport in .

Local Orbot-Snowy Rovers football team in East Gippsland League ^[8] .

The orbost is represented by the male, female and junior teams in the league field hockey ^[9] .

The city has a golf club ^[10] .

• Orbost Region Website with detailed information about the city
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