Bright (pronunciation: ) is a town in northeastern Victoria, Australia, 319 metres above sea level at the southeastern end of the Ovens Valley. At the , Bright had a population of 2,620. It is located in the Alpine Shire local government area. History Hamilton Hume and William Hovell explored the area in 1824, naming the Ovens River. The town was first known as Morse's Creek after F.H. Morse but in 1861 it was renamed in honour of the British orator and politician John Bright. The Post Office opened on 25 January 1860 as Morse's Creek and was renamed Bright in 1866. During the Victorian gold rush there was a rush to the nearby Buckland River. As the gold deposits gradually diminished, Chinese miners arrived in the area to sift the abandoned claims. Tensions over Chinese success from Anglo-Irish miners caused the violent Buckland Riot in 1857, resulting in deaths of Chinese miners and the fleeing of 2,000 Chinese. The riot was eventually quelled by the Beechworth police under the command of Robert O'Hara Burke from 80 kilometres away. Bright has a rich cultural heritage and many locations within the town along with street names can be traced to present day residents. The Bright Historical Society has extensive records of the region's past. The Bright Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1990. Features The main industry of the town at the beginning of the 21st century is tourism, with much focus on the autumnal colours of the European trees planted in the area. A major cultural event is the Bright Autumn Festival. Due to the number of paragliding and hang glider launch sites close to Bright, the town has been a centre of activity for paragliding festivals and competitions. Bright is a major gateway to alpine scenery and has a variety of native birds and animals. Morses Creek and the Ovens River have adjoining tracks for short or long walks. Bright is also a popular family destination over summer and the population swells, particularly after Christmas. During the summer months Bright enjoys consistently warm and sunny days with comfortable overnight temperatures. The town is close to the Victorian Alps and various alpine national parks including the Mount Buffalo National Park. Mount Feathertop, Mount Bogong and Mount Hotham are also near the township. At 1986 metres above sea level, Bogong is the highest peak in the state of Victoria, and Feathertop is