Alexandra, Victoria

Alexandra is a town in Victoria, Australia, 130 km (81 mi) north-east of Melbourne. It is located at the junction of the Goulburn Valley Highway (B340) and Maroondah Highway (B360), in the Shire of Murrindindi local government area. At the 2021 census, the town had a population of 2,801 and the broader area (Alexandra District) a population of 6,828.

Gold mining was the catalyst for the development of the town with many mines around Alexandra and particularly along Ultima Thule Creek, known locally as UT Creek, which runs through the town. The town's post office was opened in 1867.

The town has a number of parks. Rotary Park is adjacent to UT Creek and the town's main street and includes toilets, barbecues and the Visitor Information Centre. Leckie Park is a larger, picturesque park of over 11 hectares, also along UT Creek. It includes the Alexandra Bowling Club, a playground and the town's cenotaph.

Lake Eildon is 12 km (7.5 mi) kilometres east of Alexandra and is a major tourist attraction for boating and fishing. The nearby Goulburn River and other local streams such as the Rubicon River also attract many anglers. The Riversdale bridge across the Goulburn is about 2 kilometres west of the town centre. Other popular activities in the area include hunting, four wheel driving, hiking and camping.

Alexandra is the largest town in this part of Victoria and the headquarters of the Shire of Murrindindi as well as State government departments.

The original inhabitants of the area were members of two clans of the Taungurung Aboriginal people, the Warring-Illum Balug and the Yowung-Illam Balug.

The town was settled by Europeans in the late 1860s, when it was originally known as Redgate, or Red Gate Diggings. Redgate Post Office opened on the 15th March 1867, and was renamed to Alexandra Post Office on the 24th April 1867. The current name is thought to derive from either Alexandra of Denmark, when the shire was given a statue of her, or from three men named Alexander (Alesander McGregor, Alexander Don, and Alexander Luckie) who discovered gold in the area in 1866. Alexandra has a rich history encompassing gold mining, farming and timber. Industry and commerce has developed along with many other pursuits over a broad spectrum.

Alexandra played a large part in the development of Victoria's high country. Alexandra was home to a number of large timber mills, especially during the mid to late 20th century.