Going with the Flow

The Murray River

Echuca, Swan Hill, Mildura

Victoria

May 18 to 25, 2016

Water - the elixir of life. 

As we've travelled this great land we've become even more acutely aware of how critical this resource - water - is to our nation's survival. The development  of  the Mighty Murray - at 2400km one of the longest rivers in the world - as a trade route was crucial to the success of the early colony. Although, rail has since replaced the paddle steamers to carry goods to markets, this waterway continues to play a major role in nourishing communities and irrigating farmlands. 

Our first stop on the Murray was Echuca. In the 1860s it was the busiest inland port in the world due to its proximity to Melbourne. Wool, wheat, livestock and timber flowed down the river to the port before being taken overland to the city. It was a pretty rough old town, with sometimes up to 100 pubs serving a population of 5000. A tour of the Echuca Discovery Centre revealed the town's fascinating history.

Some lovely old ladies still steaming down the Murray.

No visit to the Murray is complete without a trip on a restored paddle steamer. Tourism is keeping these grand vessels afloat ... and they are grand.

Garry getting the lowdown about the steam engine.

A few more questions, if you don't mind Mr Mechanic.

Me taking the sun on a (pretend) wool bale.

Irrigation ceased on May 15 this year and the region had received quite a lot of rain so the river was at a reasonable height. Access to water - particularly to the Darling River which flows into the Murray downstream - remains an extremely sensitive issue.

We drove out to the Barmah State Park to check the state of the wetlands.  

Looking good. Pelicans?

Juvenile pelicans with their parents. We'd only ever seen adults so were intrigued to see the youngsters.

Obviously, a breeding ground.

A full moon rising and then forming beautiful concentric circles, below.  

En route to Swan Hill, we did a diversion to the Gunbower Wetland and Kow Swamp and then climbed a small hill, Mount Hope, so named by explorer Thomas Mitchell and visited by Burke and Wills on their ill-fated journey to the Top End.

Eerie Kow Swamp. 

Check out the green grass. Happy cattle.

View across to Kow Swamp from Mount Hope.

The country was so lush. Amazing how the land transforms with a bit of rain.

Corellas taking flight across the Murray at Swan Hill.

Pretty duckies on a green river. They tell us this is a healthy colour. 

While at Swan Hill we stayed on a farm on an island. It was so beautiful.

Garry even broke out the fishing rod. No luck but a nice way to pass the time of day.

All alone on Pental Island bound by the Murray and Little Murray rivers.

And then to Mildura. We enjoyed nearby Wentworth - on the junction of the Murray and Darling rivers -  more than Mildura, perhaps because it was wet the day we traipsed the city streets. 

A few pics from Wentworth following.

"Pretty" boat at the river junction.

The Darling is looking very healthy this end. It's not so good upstream.

Black swans in front of a weir and lock 10.
There are many locks and weirs along the length of the Murray. It's all about controlling the flow.

Just another pelican but some nice reflections.

The Perry Sand Hills are nearby where the remains of megafauna have been discovered. Amazing how the River Red Gums survive half buried in the dunes.

The little grey Ferguson tractor played an important role in saving Wentworth in the 1956 flood. There are little grey Fergies all over town. Garry hopped on one.

Mildura is a huge fruit growing area, particularly grapes for both table and bottle. It's all irrigated. The amount of water sucked out of this river system is unbelievable. Where would Australia be without it? More importantly, what will we do when it fails to flow?  The river elixir will not sustain life indefinitely if the demands on the Murray continue at present rates.

Enough said.
That's all from me for now. Toodle pip.