THE provision of an abundance of recreational land within the Tatura township has been one of Tatura’s main assets, one for which present residents continue to reap the rewards of with many sporting fraternities, social and service clubs, and space to walk, ride and play.
By the mid-1880s, Tatura had outstripped in growth all the other older towns within the Shire of Waranga and the Shire of Rodney, proclaimed in 1886 (Streets of Tatura, Arthur Knee). The young township continued to prosper as the centre of the Shire, which included Mooroopna, Kyabram, Toolamba and Byrneside.
Horse racing, which had originally taken place on Thomas Hogan’s property, was in 1890 granted a home at the racecourse and recreation reserve in the southwest corner of the township. Whilst rectangular, the measurements for this adopted reserve are considered very odd, and the reason for this unknown.
A water channel built by the United Echuca and Waranga Waterworks Trust once supplied a dam on the site of today’s Lake Bartlett. The channel ran from Ross Street along the racecourse’s northern border and shaped Tatura’s development
A rubbish tip was an essential part of any community and in the 19th century, tips were not controlled by state or local regulations. Generally, they were self-established in some low but readily accessible area. The Tatura Tip in the 1880s, according to Mr Knee’s historic recount in Streets of Tatura, was the site now occupied by the Tatura Bowls Club.
Because of its early usage as a tip, and its generally low nature, in 1889 it was gazetted as “Public Gardens”. The traditional rectangular grid design of 10 chain (210m) blocks with a 1½ chain (30m) wide road reserve was retained for the layout of the Public Gardens, and for the original 10 acres set aside for the Agricultural Show Yards.
The importance of these community areas and investments is undeniable. This precinct has become a vibrant hub for sports and events. The Rotary Club’s recent installation of fitness equipment at Lake Bartlett further enhances the area’s appeal. Tatura Soccer Club’s championship win this year is a testament to the thriving sports culture.
