I've continued my travels on from Bendigo & onto the quaint little town of Echuca.
Echuca was founded by an enterprising ex-convict named Henry Hopwood. Young Henry is credited with single handedly initiating the expansion of Echuca, with a punt that traversed the banks of the Murray River. Having noticed the number of drovers & farmers in the area, he took advantage of their need to cross the river. Within years, use of the paddlesteamer was implemented, modelled on America's Mississippi paddle steamers. The Mississippi model created problems however & their design was altered to suit the conditions of the local rivers. The paddlesteamer was of prime importance in the development of Echuca. Due to its riverside location & close proximity to Melbourne, the paddle steamer opened up Echuca & its surrounds to a new & faster mode of transport. Between the 1860's & 1900's, Echuca was a bustling, pioneering outpost, becoming the largest inland port, second only to the Port of Melbourne. Paddle steamers ferried people & goods from all through the Murray, Darling & Murrumbidgee River systems to Echuca, the closest port to Melbourne on the Murray.The paddle steamer's carrying capacity was increased by the addition of barges, towed behind the paddle steamer. The riverboat trade was of national importance, as it opened up inland Australia for settlement, thereby increasing the country's production of wool. The establishment of the rail link between Echuca & Melbourne resulted in the further expansion of Echuca, as businesses raced to take advantage of the trade opportunities on offer & provide services to those situated in the town.
As a consequence of Echuca's importance as a port, it became the major ship building centre for the river transport system. As the ship building industry grew, so too did the demand for local redgum timber, prized for its durability as a building material. In the 1870's, the Echuca district supported a dozen timber mills. A symbiotic relationship between the timber industry & the paddle steamer was forged, the two industries relying heavily on each other.
The river trade declined with the extension of the railway from Melbourne into areas of Victoria & NSW & the improvement of road transport. By the 1920's, the riverport was defunct.
The paddle steamers that currently meander the redgum-lined Murray River have all undergone refurbishment to restore them to their former glory. They still make their way under steam power, just as they did over a century ago.
These days, however, the only cargo they ferry is passengers.
Photos: some of the paddlesteamers currently doing tourist runs
Photo: the paddlesteamer wharf. On the other side of that shed is the rail line
Photos: views of the railway station. The station was closed due to refurbishment
Heritage buildings located near the wharf & river obviously have new purposes now, catering to the tourist trade. The former police station now houses a museum outlining many elements of Echuca's history. Murray Esplanade, the street that lines the river contains cafes, boutiques, antique shops & the like. Echuca is also home to the National Holden Museum. Hotels still exist, plying their original trade.
Photos: buildings constructed back in a time when Echuca was a bustling port
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