I was told that a local news paper, years ago, had mentioned that a letter meant for our Mangalore had erroneously reached ‘Mangalore’ in Victoria near Melbourne in Australia. Our citizens settled in the Kangaroo land, gave me some interesting information. Mangalore’s historic indelible name in Tulu continues to be affectionately ‘Kudla,’ and people at Udupi, Malpe, Kallianpur, Kundapur and so on are a part of it too. Indo-Oz history could embrace the aboriginal too!
This ‘Mangalore’ (Oz Postcode: 3663) is in Victoria, the smallest Aussie state whose main city Melbourne has a high Asian population. Mangalore is a scenic country side at Goulburn Valley Region just north of the Great Dividing Range. It is 395 kms from the Australian capital Canberra (Estd 1927). Oz ‘Mangalore’ is about 120 kms north of Melbourne near Seymour, 900 kms from Sydney and is sparsely populated, with abundant green vacant land.
M’lore Aerodrome
Australian Mangalore is known for its aerodrome in Victoria with a high standard of service, infrastructure and amenities and was first established by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during the World War II in 1940s. With natural hard soil, the runways were surfaced with a base of Bitumen. It was upgraded and taken over by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) in January 1946. The Oz aviation code for this airport is MAA. In recent times, it has become a centre for training all ranges and types of future aviators in civilian and government establishments. The flying schools, pilot academy, and the like are operating in a big way, with supporting public agencies.
It provides significant greenfield infrastructure for many industries that require quality transport links (rail and freeways are adjacent to the airport) and is on the major freeway network to Northern Australia.
Reason behind name
How Oz Mangalore got its name? Did it have a connection to Mangalore on the West Coast of India? Explanations were not far from fact.
Looking into the rear view mirror of time and history, the opinion is vague. Basic historic implications surely points to what is believed. Mangalore in India from the 18th century was dominated by the British administrators. Many of these and their descendants had strong ties with Australia in the early stages of exploration. Sea routes were criss crossed by the British officials and subjects of the times.
It is known that even ‘Mangalore Tiles’ were used earlier in Australia. The same British rulers and merchants, who coined or distorted the name ‘Mangaluru’ to the fancy ‘Mangalore,’ could have directly or indirectly influenced the export and use of the name in Australia in the 19th century. In fact, there are other places and spots too with name Mangalore if you can find them! Many of our own Mangaloreans have settled in Australia and made it their home, wonder if they have been able to introduce some of the culture and traditions there?
May be we will get to hear from someone. It is a triumph when someone copies what we have, we feel proud and good.
The Aussies copied the name of our ‘Mangalore,’ but, now will they feel the same proud sentiments to see our great place here today? So, Waltzing Matilda has Indian partners too.