Across Australia - Part 7 - Echuca on the Murray River, Victoria, Australia

 Hello dear readers, I hope you and yours are doing well, whether you are in the depths of summer in the northern hemisphere (I hope you are safe from the raging summer forest fires that have been devastating areas in the northern hemisphere), or in winter in the southern hemisphere, as I am - although I was reminded today that spring is only a week away - and we still need lots more rain.

Last time during my Across Australia journey series, I took you to Mansfield in the Victorian High Country and we visited Craig's hut which featured in the Man From Snowy River movie. 

This week we travel north west from Mansfield to Echuca on the Murray River - the border between the states of Victoria and New South Wales. Echuca was the home of the Murry River paddle steamer river trade in days gone by, and the 1983 Australian TV drama series All The Rivers Run. 

To orientate yourself - here is a close up and an overall map. The orange line is our SPOT tracker route. Echuca is 223km from Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria. 

Leaving Mansfield, our first stop was Benalla. We visited to the Visitor Information Center and discovered that Benalla is famous for its street art featuring over 80 murals and hosts the annual Benalla Street Art Wall to Wall Festival over a weekend usually around March or April. Looks like we had just missed it by a few days. 

Click here to see Benalla Street Art Murals. We set about exploring, but there are so many you would need much more time to see them all. 

Here is another Benalla web site - Enjoy Benalla

While we were exploring we discovered an Analemmatic Sundial. These were used as early as 2nd entury AD. 

According to the instructions - stand on the figure eight - the Analemma - at today's date and your shadow will tell the time. 

So my husband stood on April, and yes his shadow landed on 12 o'çlock - correct! 

The Analemmatic Sundail is credited to astronomer and mathematician Cluadius Ptolemy. The Benalla Sundail was built to mark the centenary in 2005 of Rotary International. The Sundial is in a park overlooking Lake Benalla next to the walking path. You can find out more here - Lake Benalla

From Benalla we continued to Echuca on the Murray River. We had a nice spot at the Echuca Discovery Riverside Caravan Park to set up with trees as a backdrop and near a walking path along the Murray River, so it was along here that we walked every day 

A little video I took at the caravan park - the birds you can hear are Kookaburras - see photo below

There is so much to explore around Echuca - history, natural landscapes, culture. The first place to start is the Visitor Information Centre located in the historic wharf precinct of the Port of Echuca. 

Home to the traditional Yorta Yorta people, the Murray River (Dhungala) was an important part of their sacred, cultural and traditional lives for tens of thousands of years before white man arrived, with the river and forest providing a year round resource for food and timber. 

Winding approx 2,600km from the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales in the east, along the top edge of Victoria to South Australia in the south, the Murray River is one of the longest navigatable rivers in the world. Added to this is the Darling River which runs approx 2,740kms from near the Queensland-New South Wales border and joins the Murray at Wentworth. I mentioned this in my previous post - Across Australia Part 4

The first white man to settle near Echuca was ex-convict Henry Hopwood in 1853, where he operated a small punt across the river and later a pontoon bridge. Settlement began in Moama in 1845 (Moama is the twin city of Echuca - but on the New South Wales side of the river). 

In 1853 Captain William Randell was the first white person to travel upstream on a paddlesteamer from Goolwa in South Australia to Moama, on the PS Mary Ann, beginning the riverboat building and river trade. Sadly I couldn't find a photo of PS Mary Ann - but I did find this PDF which gives some information and a drawing. 

By 1872 the riverboat trade at the Port of Echuca was clearing 240 boats annually, and Echuca was the largest inland port in Australia (and the third largest port in Australia). At its peak in 1865 the wharf was over 300 metres long. The wharf is built in levels to accommodate the height of the river. The tide seemed quite low when we were there. 

The paddle steamers and the barges they towed, opened up inland Australia, delivering goods (including bales of wool, timber, mail, food etc) to and from otherwise isolated stations (farms) and towns along the river. During dry summers boats were often not able to move up and down the river. This trade continued until railways and roads took over. 

The wharf precinct is an interesting place to explore. In the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre (entry is free), you can learn more about the history of the riverboat era.

Echuca is the home of the oldest still-operating wooden hulled paddlesteamer, the PS Adelaide built in 1866. You can book a river tour. 

A must on our visit to Echuca was to book a cruise on the paddlesteamer the PS Pevensey (built in 1911), which was used during the filming of the 1983 Australian TV series, All The Rivers Run, starring Australian actors Sigrid Thornton (Philadelphia - Delie) and John  Waters (Brenton Edwards) which we re-watched before we left on our trip. I have wanted to visit Echuca ever since I saw the TV series back in 1983. The boat was named the PS Philadelphia for the series. (ie Paddle Steamer Philadelphia).

The TV series was based on a 1958 novel by Australian writer Nancy Cato which tells the story of a shipwrecked English girl, Philadelphia, who in the novel, became the first woman paddle steamer captain on the Murray River, and is centered around the Murray River paddlesteamer trade. I re-read the book while we were away. 

The PS Pevensey, built in 1911, is still powered by her original 20 horse power steam engine. They blow their horn as a way of communicating with other vessels, particularly when there is restricted visibility, ie around bends or coming into port. The river certainly has a lot of bends! You can hear the horn in the video below - 

Below you can see the steering wheel. The river boats used one tonne of wood a day and take about an hour and a half to steam up. That is a lot of wood from a lot of trees! The engineer had his lunch warming in alfoil on the engine. 

Captain Pearl Wallace (later Pearl Hogg, née Collins) was the first woman paddlesteamer captain and qualified master mariner on the Murray River. She earned her River Master’s Certificate in October 1947 at age 36, breaking barriers in a male-dominated river trade. Her life inspired the novel All the Rivers Run.

We enjoyed our one hour cruise, and had lovely weather for it. There are lots of cruise boats along the Murray River - some which people live in and some which can be hired for a cruise. 

You can book an hour, overnight or several day cruises from Echuca and other places along the River. There are several companies offering cruises. 

The boats carry a flag, believed to have originated in the 1850s. The red cross of St George, four blue bars representing the rivers Murray, Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and the Darling. The five stars represent the colonies - New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. In the corner is the flag of the United Kingdom. 

The flag you see below here is the flag used in Echuca, known as the Combined Murray Flag, used from Mildura to Albury. 

The left hand flag you can see (on the poster) is used in the upper reaches of the Murray, and the right hand one in the lower reaches (South Australia). 

We have always known that the border between the states of New South Wales and Victoria was the Murray River, what we didn't know is that the Murray River is claimed by New South Wales, and the border is actually along the bank of the Murray on the Victorian side. Curious. 

We walked along the street one street back from the wharf, looking in the shops and at the many heritage buildings, taking photos, and broused in an old bookshop. We had a lovely lunch in an old house at 51 Murray Esplanade built in 1896 and at one time known as Telley House and now a restarurant called the Beekeepers Table. 

Some birds from my husband - clockwise from top left - Pied Currawong, Australian Little Grebe, Eastern Rosella, White Egret, Eastern Swamp Hen, Rainbow Lorrikeet, Masked Plover, immature Blue Faced Honeyeater, and in the center a White Faced Heron. 

Another look at those Masked Plovers

and those parrots - from left to right - Rainbow Lorikeet, Eastern Rosella, Pink and Grey Galah

Echuca Railway Station constructed in 1864 when the railway connected Echuca to Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria. 

That's it from me today. I hope you have enjoyed this visit to Echuca. It is a lovely place to stay for a few days, especially exploring the history along the wharf precinct and going on a river cruise or taking walks in the bushland along the river. 

Nest time we will explore a silo and mural art trail in Rochester and other towns south of Echuca. I hope you will visit. 

More info - 

Port of Echuca

Echuca - Women of the River

Echuca River cruises

Murray river Paddle Steamers

Paddle steamer history South Australia

Visit Victoria-Paddle Steamers

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

If you are looking for a translate button - it's there near the top on the right hand side. 

• Saturdays Critters - Viewing Nature With Eileen
• Mosaic Monday @ Soul & Mind & So On
• Monday Morning Blog Club @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs
• Cosy with Coffee - Weekly Wonders 
• Monday Murals @ Colourful World
• Peabea's Pictorial Tuesday
• Travel Tuesday
• Talking About It Tuesdays @ Slices of Life
• Through My Lens 
• Senior Salon Pitstop @ Scratch Made Food
• Thankful Thursday 
• All Seasons @ Where the Wild Things Were
• H2O Thursday
• Nature Thursday
• Sky Watch Friday
• Sunday Snapshots @ Life Captured

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Until then, enjoy your day...Life only comes around once, so do what makes you happy, be kind, and be with people who make you smile. 

Across Australia - Part 4 - South Australia to Victoria

 Hi everyone. I hope you and yours are doing well. It is winter here in Australia, and I have been getting over a bad cold the last couple of weeks, and wishing I was somewhere warm. 

Welcome back to my blog and my series about my recent trip across Australia from Western Australia to Victoria. If you missed last week, you can catch up here - Part 3 - South Australia

This week we leave Burra in South Australia, travel down to Morgan along the Murray River, to Waikerie and Loxton to Renmark, just inside the South Australlian/Victorian border. Then across the border to Mildura, Wentworth, Swan Hill and Lake Boga in Victoria. 

Here is the map from our SPOT tracker. The squiggly blue line is the Murray River.

The Murray River is one of the world's longest navigatable rivers. It starts in the Australian Alps, near Mount Kosciuszko in New South Wales. It then runs 2,700 kilometres across the top of the state of Victoria through South Australia to the Southern Ocean on the south coast of South Australia near Goolwa, and forms the border between the states of New South Wales and Victoria. 

Long before European settlement, Aboriginal people lived along the river, and it was travelled by some of Australia's earliest European explorers. By the late 1800s, it was a busy trading route with boats and paddlesteamers carrying supplies to outlying stations and homesteads, and bringing cargo, wool and passengers to Adelaide. 

Today some people live on house boats which are common along the river, or you can hire a house boat or book a half day, full day or several day cruise sleeping on board a paddle steamer.   You can learn more here - Visit Victoria - The Murray River.

On a previous trip to South Australia in 2013 we stayed by the Murray River at Mannum and followed the river to the ocean. I made sure we criss-crossed the river using every ferry crossing possible. In many places the only way you can cross the river is by ferry that takes cars, caravans and trucks, running 24 hours a day, at no cost to the traveller. 

Leaving Burra, our first stop was Morgan. Settled in 1878 it played an important role along the Murray River trade link. We went down to the old wharf which unfortunately now seems to be derelict, however Morgan still has much to attract visitors. 

Below you can see us crossing the Murray River by ferry - you just drive your car on and they take you across.

Passing through vineyard and orchard country, our next stop was Waikerie. 

We parked by the silos painted by Jimmy DVate and Garry Duncan, featuring native flora and fauna, including a giant yabby and the endangered Regent Parrot. You can read more about it here - Waikerie silos art

The name ‘Waikerie’ is said to mean ‘many wings’, after the giant swift moth ‘Weikari’, the name given to the moth by the Indigenous first peoples of the area.

Both artists used exterior enamel paints, Garry exclusively, while Jimmy mainly used aerosol spray cans. The work took 16 weeks to complete and used nearly 500 litres of paint.

From the silos carpark there is a 3.5km return cliff top walk with loookouts over the Murray River. There is also free overnight camping. Waikerie was probably another place that deserved a longer stop over - but it wasn't to be. 

Below is a Peace Pole # 68 - erected by the Waikerie Roatary Club in 2023, and part of the global Peace Pole Project. This is one of 250,000 poles erected around the world with the simple goal to spread the Universal Message of Peace. Started by Mahahsia Goi in 1955 in Japan inspired by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WW2.  

The message is simple - May Peace Prevail on Earth. You can learn more here - Peace Pole Project. I am wondering if you have ever seen a peace pole? There is a map you can go to find out where they are - experience.arcgis.peace pole project

We joined the Sturt Highway at Waikerie, but did a little side trip to Loxton. 

After lunch by the Murray River, we explored the Loxton Historic Village. Here you can learn about the region's early settlers, told through 45 recreated buildings and exhibits. All of the buildings have been relocated or built on site. We spent a couple of hours here, but you could easily spend longer. Please check the website for opening hours and entry fees. 

Established in 1970, the village is run by a dedicated team of 70 volunteers, shop staff and manager. The village has market and other special days through the year where the village comes alive. School teachers are encouraged to use the resources of the village. There are several programs for school children. 

For children, ask for a Look and Find tick sheet, which can direct your wandering as you look for the items in the displays.  

There is a blacksmith, pioneer's hut, chapel, school, general store, bakery, telephone exchange, general store, bank and much more to explore. It is fascinating to wander around, you might even see something from your childhood! We certainly did! 

Below are two unusual houses - a Nissan hut with the curved roof - you can see the inside of it below the main photo. The image on the right is a hut made out of mallee roots (an Australian tree). And below that a settlers kitchen. 

Nissen huts were semi-cylindrical (like half a tin can) prefabricated from corregated iron. Invented during WW1 by British engineer Peter Nissen for fast, low-cost military field accommodation. Following both World Wars, governments sold surplus huts to state and local authorities to alleviate the housing crises. 

Here is a closer look at the wall of that mallee root hut....

Our next stop was Renmark on the Murray river, about 55 kilometres from the South Australian / Victorian border. We stayed in the river side Echo Holiday Park caravan park overnight. 

My husband takes photos of birds. Below you can see clockwise from top left - Wood Duck (Mane Goose), Little Grebe (with dinner in its beak!), Crested Pigeon, and Eastern Swamp Hen. Little grebes are diving waterbirds that eat small fish, acquatic insects, tadpoles and crustaceans. 

We went into the Visitor Information Centre in Renmark and went on the paddle boat tied up at the wharf (free adminssion). You can see some house boats in the background of the river scene below. 

Below is the historic Paringa bridge near the caravan park. Traffic can go both ways separated by a walk way down the middle which was once a rail track. We walked along the bridge in the afternoon, and then next day towed our caravan across. There is not much room each side of your vehicle, so take it easy driving across. 

Opened in 1927, it is South Australia's only lift bridge. The bridge's vertical lift span is designed to rise 9.1 metres to allow tall boats and houseboats to pass through. That would certainly be something to see! Sceduled openings are at 9.30am and 2.30pm daily. Other times, boat skippers must give 2 hours notice. 

Just across the bridge is silo art at Paringa, by artists Jack Gran and Sam Brooks, celebrating local identities. Read more about them here - Paringa Silo art

 
From Renmark-Paringa we crossed the border into Victoria 

and continued to Mildura, our next stop on our trip, 138 km from Renmark, and booked into the Mildura Riverside Holiday caravan park just out of town. We are now in the Riverland district where there are vineyards and orchards. You can walk along the river just down from the caravan park. 

We went to the fantastic Mildura Visitor Information Centre (one of the best visitor centres we had ever seen), and collected local information and found out what the daylight saving time was! It can be confusing when travelling across borders and time zones. 

Down at the river we saw a cruise boat coming through a Lock. So interesting how it works raising and lowering the water levels. Construction of the Lock 11 and weir began in 1923, and was completed in 1927. The weirs and locks along the Murray River are important for regulating the flow of the river, which at different times can be flooded, or completely dry. This lack of consistency caused problems for towns and boats along the river. 

The Mildura # 11 Lock is a concrete chamber 61.5 m long, 17.1 m wide and 7.6 m deep. The boat comes into the lock, and ties up. The gates are shut, then water is pumped in so that the water in the lock is the same height as the river on the other side. The gates are opened and the boat motors out. Amazing. 

Downstream lockage is operated by the lockperson on the hour and upstream lockage is operated on the half hour (with a boat booking). Refer to the website for more information - Mildura Lock

I wish I had taken a video to show you, but here is a You Tube video I found -

Flash boat hey! There are many house and cruise boats up and down the river - house boats that people live on, or for hire. 

Next day we crossed the Murray and Darling Rivers into New South Wales and drove to the town of Wentworth to visit the Perry Sandhills just a couple of kilometres out of town. The sandhills were used in an early scene in the Man From Snowy River Part 2 movie, as well as Burke and Wills, Flying Doctors and Boney. (our son loves film locations) 

The tree you can see here engulfed by sand is called the God Tree. This is a Murray River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), which is over 500 years old. Over time, the sand has completely covered the trunk of the tree (perhaps 15 to 20 foot), so that if you walk underneath the branches you are actually standing in the canopy of the tree. I haven't been able to find out why it is called the God Tree. 

According to geologists, the Perry Sandhills have been formed by wind erosion and are around 40,000 years old. Skeletal remains of giant mega-fauna (kangaroos, lions, emus, wombats and goanas) have been found here. 

Back in Wentworth we had lunch in a lovely park at the confluence of the Murray and Darling Rivers, where there are picnic tables and a lookout tower. It doesn't look much in this photo, but to get to this point the Darling River has run 2,740 kilometres from Queensland, and the Murray River has run 1,686km from the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. From here they join and run another 832km through South Australia to the Southern Ocean. 

A few more birds from my husband -  clockwise from top left - Noisy Miner, Pied Butcher Bird, Yellow Rosella, and a Mudlark (Magpie Lark). 

After a couple of nights in Mildura we were on the road again - fuel was now $3.13 a litre! - still influenced by the Middle East conflict. 

Our next overnight stop was Swan Hill, on the way passing through Ouyen (grain growing region), and Piangil (vineyards, orchards and vegetable gardens). 

After setting up camp at the Swan Hill Riverside caravan park we drove 15km further on to Lake Boga - the location of a secret flying boat WW2 catalina repair base and secret decoding bunker in WW2. We watched a 25 minute movie before exploring the museum exhibits. In the decoding bunker female clerks played an important role decoding incoming and encoding outgoing messages throughout the South Pacific theatre of war in WW2, as well as monitoring aircraft movements. 

Please check the website for opening hours and entrance costs. 

The museum is on the edge of Lake Boga, popular all year round for water-based activities. 

Nearby are silos painted by Tim Bowtell 

That's it from me today. Next time we will go down through the grain growing Wimmera Mallee region where we visit the amazing Stick Shed, visit another TV filming location, more painted silos, and I connect with my ancestors. 

I hope you have enjoyed my blog post today, and my continuing travels across Australia.  If you missed any previous posts, please find them in the left hand side Blog Archive side bar drop down list. 

Until then, take care everyone, and stay well and happy. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

If you are looking for a translate button - it's there near the top on the right hand side. 
   

Mosaic Monday @ Soul & Mind & So On

Saturdays Critters - Viewing Nature With Eileen

Monday Morning Blog Club @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs

Cosy with Coffee - Weekly Wonders 

Peabea's Pictorial Tuesday

Travel Tuesday

Talking About It Tuesdays @ Slices of Life

Through My Lens 
Thankful Thursday 

H2O Thursday
Nature Thursday

Sky Watch Friday

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Until then, enjoy your day...Life only comes around once, so do what makes you happy, be kind, and be with people who make you smile.