History of Echuca, Moama (taken off the internet)

Originally the Yorta Yorta people occupied a unique stretch of forest-wetlands that are located in what is now known as the central Murray – Goulburn region.

Founded in 1853, Echuca became the largest inland port in Australia, second only to the Port of Melbourne. Like many bustling and successful towns in its time breweries and brothels boomed. A combination of wealth with the finest of fashions and bare-knuckle fights lasting for hours. The town became the trading hub from as far as Queensland, utilising the Darling and Murrumbidgee Rivers to transport their wares like wool and harvests of wheat, eventually by rail to the Port of Melbourne.

The historic Port of Echuca literally means the ‘meeting of the waters’ and sits on the junction of the Murray and Campaspe and just downstream from the Goulburn River. Echuca was founded by one of the most enterprising characters of the early colonial days, an ex-convict named Henry Hopwood. In 1850 he bought a small punt, which operated across the Murray River near the Campaspe Junction.

Originally known as ‘Hopwood’s Ferry‘ the name was changed to Echuca as the town grew. Hopwood worked to establish a town, which eventually had a major influence on the development of the great inland river system. He built the Bridge Hotel in 1859 and helped found the Riverine Herald in 1863. When he died in 1869 he left a thriving town where nothing existed 16 years earlier.

The centre of Echuca during its heyday was the huge red gum wharf built in 1865 with restoration beginning in 1973. At one time it recorded that more than 240 boat visits and their wares transferred in 1 year. The riverboat trade was of national importance because it had the effect of opening up inland Australia for settlement and thereby increasing the country’s production of wool.

In the 1870s the district supported a dozen mills cutting in excess of 1000 logs each week. Before long the 2 industries began to rely on each other. The riverboat days boomed at Echuca – until the great depression of the 1890s. As the railways were extended in New South Wales and road transport improved, the river trade declined and the old wharf was defunct by the 1920s.

Moama has had a chequered history. When the settlement began in 1845, it was known as Maiden’s Punt, named after James Maiden – punt owner, station manager, publican and post master. Three years later the village area was surveyed and lots were put up for sale when the town was renamed Moama, in 1851.

Situated on the main cattle route from Southern New South Wales to the gold fields at Bendigo in the 1850s, the settlement became a cattle market and crossing place and big deals took place across the bar of Maiden’s Junction Inn. There were celebrations in the in 1853 when Captain William Randell, the first person to travel upstream from Goolwa, arrived in the paddle steamer, Mary Ann. Randell’s arrival herald the boat building industry and river trade that bolstered Moama’s fortunes in years to come.

Moama declined when the cattle market crashed in the late 1850s and competition from Echuca nearby. James Maiden and Henry Hopwood were fierce rivals in business for years.

The historic port is now home to the largest collection of paddle steamers in Australia. Many of them have been fully restored and offer daily cruises along with insights into a trading river from over 100 years ago.

The historic Port of Echuca adjoining the wharf is a living museum. Historic buildings, horse-drawn carriages, gravel roads, blacksmith and woodturner all creating a wonderful atmosphere recreating the 1800s.

Shop at boutique stores along Echuca’s historic High Street, containing historic buildings with spectacular facades. Plus explore the range of accommodation choices and other stunning attractions including the popular clubs in the region. Echuca and Moama are the perfect base for a great holiday on the Murray River with their stunning Mediterranean climate.

Experience the mighty Murray River on a river cruise, hire a houseboat in Echuca, go fishing, swimming or simply paddle a canoe. It’s a delightful way to unwind. Wake up to clear country air and a chorus of birds. Explore nearby towns, magnificent red gum forests, wetlands and fauna parks. Soak up a lifetime of memories. Excellent dining in local restaurants including the renowned Oscar W’s Wharfside, overlooking the Murray or have a wonderful riverbank picnic. You can also enjoy a round at one of the Murray’s best golf courses, Rich River Golf Club.

You can also absorb the incredible beauty of nature with magnificent red gum forests at nearby Barmah State Forest. See amazing wetlands that are home to over 200 species of waterbirds and other fauna with a Kingfisher Cruise.

4^th December, Thursday

We had one almighty storm last night and so it’s really steamy and humid this morning.  We left early for Echuca Moama early.  The drive is not very exciting as the country is flat, dry and not much growth.  The road to Echuca from Hay forms some of the “Long paddock” which stretches more than 600km along the Cobb Highway (It was named for the famous coach company) from Echuca Moama on the Victorian border, then through to Wilcannia.  The Long Paddock leads onto the outback towns of Bourke, Broken Hill (which we will visit after Melbourne) and then onto White cliffs.  The caravan park is in Moama (NSW) and we go shopping in Echuca (VIC), the border is just over the bridge.  Moama and Echuca are twin towns so there are no paddocks or anything in between, it just goes straight from one town to the next. We crossed the border 4 times today and will probably do it again tomorrow.  The area boasts a lot of wineries which I am sure we will be able to squeeze in on our very busy itenary. The caravan park is on the river and there are a lot of house boats here.  It seems that people live that way, just cruising up and down the Murray.  We are going on a 110 year old Paddle steamer tomorrow.  They were used in the early days to develop and trade in the Inland of Australia.  Hugo is allowed to go on the boat with us, so he gets to have another cruise.  There is so much history here and beautiful old buildings (sorry, HAHA). The town of Echuca is laid out haphazardly and it’s really charming as it has such character and it will take us awhile to see most of it, we are here for 3 full days so will make the most of it. The first thing that Ralph did was to suss out his fishing spot which is not far from the van. The caravan park is very new so all facilities are very modern and the trees haven’t grown yet, so it’s not very shady.  It has lovely green grass though so Hugo is happy.  There are a lot of cabins here and they are still busy building the park, it’s huge.  It’s going to be more like a resort by the time they finish.  The swimming pool is huge with all the colourful bells and whistles of a swimming centre for kids with a gazillion deck chairs around the pool.  This is a nice park but I think in the busy season it would be a nightmare for us.

5^th December, Friday

Ralph went fishing again this morning but he didn’t get a bite.  He said that some fish we jumping out of the water. I really think that they were teasing him, saying “Here I am, catch me if you can”. I think that Ralph is adamant to make them eat their words. There were 2 guys in a camper trailer camping next to us and I was chatting to them this morning before they left.  They seemed to be real bushy type blokes from Queensland, tatoos, the beards, the Eureka belt buckles, I think you get the gist. The one guy lost his wife a few years ago and the 2 friends travel together because life is short he told me. What got me about them though and this is why I am telling you about them is the fact that they are travelling with a 12 year old blind poodle (Napoleon) and this dog has a blue bow in his hair and the bling collar and is so spoiled, he looked a bit like Bella Kaz although he was totally blind, it was the cutest thing I have seen in a long time, 2 blokey blokes with this little poodle who was spoiled rotten (Just thought that you might like this story and also made me think that we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover). We went on a Paddle steamer up the river and Hugo got his own ticket, he loved it.  There are quite a few paddle steamers operating as tour trips up and down the river and also for winery tours.  Some of them do lunches as well.  There weren’t many people on the one we went on and they all hopped off at the winery so it was only Ralph, Hugo and myself plus the crew of course on the big boat going back to the docks.  We went on the steamer “Pevensey” which is over 100 years old and was used in a mini series called “All the rivers run” but in the movie she was called “The Philadelphia”.  A lot of the series was filmed in Echuca and I bought a dvd of the series as we’ve never seen it. We did a little tour around the old area of Echuca which is around the docks and I love this place.  It’s got such character and there are old little lane ways and quant little shops selling all sorts of homemade stuff, like candles, chocolates, cheeses just to mention a few.  The pavements are wide and you really feel like you have stepped back in time, it’s so nostalgic and it’s been well preserved. I got a first mate certificate which only school kids who do the cruise get but the skipper decided to give me one as well. I have to tell you about the shower in this park as I’ve never seen anything like it before.  The shower head is a largish square thing with lots of holes and hangs from the ceiling.  It’s awesome as it’s like showering in the rain and you don’t have to turn around to get yet.  I will take a picture for you tomorrow.

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6^th December, Saturday

Thankfully it’s much cooler this morning.  We visited the little village of Womboota (4 houses) and a little winery that makes mead and some wines.  It used to be the old school when the village was a bustling little place. The place used to be part of a sheep station and the guys would come into the village at the end of the week for some R&R after mustering. The few houses there look like they are about to fall down and they are inhabited as we saw people in their yards.  Back to camp and at the moment there is an almighty storm brewing.  We have taken the awning down as it is very windy and we could land up floating home.  Let’s hope that the storm is not too bad.

7^th Dec, Sunday

We did have a bit of a downpour last night but it wasn’t too bad.  Today we drove around Echuca seeing the things that we had missed before and then drove over the bridge to the market in Moama.  Came back to camp and vegged until about 2.30 then drove back into Echuca (about 8 mins drive) for the best regional fish and chips (voted by the Herald sun, I think).  We sat outside the fish and chip shop with a bottle of wine and it poured.  Thankfully this is an old town and the pavements and coverings are very wide, it was really nice actually and quite relaxing just watching people going about their business and watching the rain.  Back to camp and it rained for awhile. We will have to pack in the morning as everything is wet but it’s not a hassle as we are only going 100kms to Bendigo where we plan to stay until Friday morning which is when we head for Melbourne.