Bethanga

Bethanga is a town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia in the Shire of Towong local government area, 390 kilometres (242 mi) from the state capital, Melbourne.

Bethanga is a town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia in the Shire of Towong local government area, 390 kilometres (242 mi) from the state capital, Melbourne.At the 2016 census, Bethanga had a population of 471 and gives its name to the Bethanga Bridge.

The town is located close to Lake Hume, attracting both retired people and commuters to nearby Albury-Wodonga.

The Bethanga Primary School was first established in 1876 after a petition was sent to the Education Department of Victoria by the mining community of Bethanga.

Services from the Bethanga general store include take away food, fresh and dry store consumables, household goods, and great company from the locals.

The Bethanga Soldiers Memorial Hall is the venue for the ANZAC day remembrance ceremony each year and displays the Bethanga honour role and serviceman record. The hall and supper room is used for functions and meetings.

Bethanga has two churches. Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Church St, Bethanga and the Catholic Church of St Francis in Bridge Road.

The Bethanga Post Office provides postal services and PO box rentals and is a Commonwealth Bank agent.

Established in 1878 the Courthouse Hotel serves beer and food and has a shaded beer garden.

The Victoria police force have a police station in Bethanga.

The Bethanga Bush Fire Brigade was formed in 1938 and at the formation of the Country Fire Authority (1945) was affiliated as the Bethanga and District Rural Fire Brigade. The Brigade has a satellite station in the nearby Bellbridge township, and is part of the Tallangatta group in district 24of Hume Region.In 2015, the brigade celebrated the 70th anniversary of affiliation with the Country Fire Authority.

The Bethanga Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) consist of ambulance volunteers who function as ‘first responders' and provide basic emergency care until the ambulance arrives.

Golfers play at the Bethanga and District Golf Club (a seasonal club open only April to September) on Bethanga-Tallangatta Road.

The Bethanga Saints Football Club, were based at Bethanga from their formation in 1907, with a number of years spent either in recess or part of the merged "Bethanga-Granya FC". In 2001 the club relocated to Wodonga, Victoria and changed the club name to Wodonga Saints. The relocation aimed to attracted new players and membership in an effort to preventthe club from folding. Commencing in 2013, Wodonga Saints played one home match per season at the Bethanga Recreation Reserve as its annual Back To Bethanga match.

There is a cricket club that currently has an A and B grade team in the Albury - Wodonga Cricket competition.

The Bethanga Recreation Reserve is a parcel of crown land which has been zoned for public recreation. Facilities at the reserve include sports oval, tennis courts, netball courts, and horse paddocks. The reserve also has club rooms with and kiosk. Every Easter weekend the reserve hosts the Bethanga Gymkhana.

The Hume soccer club provides an opportunity for young soccer player to meet and train during the Autumn and Winter months.

The Bethanga Pony club is a designated Pony Club have monthly training meetings.

Bethanga was nominated in the Federal Government's Mobile Blackspot Program and has been allocated funding to receive a mobile phone tower in the town.

Internet services in Bethanga are delivered through the ADSL1 network with some residents using satellite internet services. The township has been nominated to receive the National Broadband Network via a fixed wireless tower. Many residents have objected to the wireless towerand the development is being reviewed by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.