Echuca

The riverine plains of the Goulburn Broken catchment are the traditional lands of the Yorta Yorta Nation.[5] The population of the Yorta Yorta before European contact is estimated to have been approximately 2400.[6] The Yorta Yorta were dispossessed of their traditional lands and left to eke out an existence on the edges of European settlements as remnant tribal groups.[7]

Present-day Echuca was founded by one of the most enterprising figures of the early colonial period, an ex-convict named Henry Hopwood. In 1850 he purchased a small punt to ferry people and goods across the Murray River near the Campaspe junction. The small settlement known as Hopwood's Ferry grew to become the town of Echuca. The Hopwood's Punt Post Office opened around 1854 and was renamed Echuca Post Office on 1 January 1855.[8]

By the 1870s Echuca had risen to prominence as Australia's largest inland port. Being the point of shortest distance between the Murray River and the major city of Melbourne, Echuca was both a key river port and railway junction. Steam-driven paddleboats would arrive at the 400-metre long redgum Echuca Wharf, which were unloaded and the goods transported by rail to Melbourne. Wool, wheat, other grains, livestock and timber were the most common cargoes. The wharf has been listed as a Heritage Place on the Australian National Heritage List.

This industrial boom led to a rapidly expanding population, at one stage in excess of 15,000, with more than a hundred pubs/hotels rumoured to exist in the Echuca district at one time. An iron bridge was constructed over the Murray River in 1878 by the NSW Railways Department.[9]

The expansion of the railways from Melbourne to most parts of Victoria, as well as improvements to roads and fickle river conditions all combined to lessen Echuca's importance, and by the 1890s the paddlesteamer fleet was in decline. An economic depression and the collapse of several banks virtually ended Echuca's role as a major economic centre, and its population began to disperse.

Echuca has a semi-arid climate (BSk).

Paddle Steamer Pevensey

The port is home to the largest paddle steamer fleet in the world, which includes the world's oldest operating wooden hulled paddle steamer, the PS Adelaide built in 1866. There are several historic vessels operating out of Echuca on a daily commercial basis such as PS Pevensey (built 1911), PS Alexander Arbuthnot (built 1923), PS Adelaide (built 1866) operating from Echuca Wharf itself and the PS Emmylou (built 1980 with a steam engine in use from 1906), PS Canberra (built 1913) and PV Pride of the Murray (built 1924 as a logging barge C24) operating from Riverboat Dock, a short distance downstream from the main wharf. These vessels conduct between 4-6 1hour cruises daily, while the PS Emmylou offers lunch, dinner and scenic cruises. There are also a number of privately owned paddle steamers in Echuca, including the PS Hero, PS Henry Charles and the former Church of England mission steamer, PS Etona.[13] As well as the paddle steamers there are numerous houseboats, many of which can be hired. The MV Mary Ann (built 1981) operates as a cruising restaurant all year round.

The Port of Echuca is also restoring the PS Success to full working order. When operational, it will be added to the fleet of paddle steamers at Echuca Wharf.[14]

Annual events held in Echuca include the Southern 80 waterski race, the largest waterski race in the world (February), the Riverboats Music Festival (February),[15] the Echuca-Moama Weddings Expo (May),[16] the Echuca Rotary Steam, Horse and Vintage Rally (Queens Birthday weekend in June)[17] and WinterBlues Festival (July).[18][19]

In 1984, the Australian television mini-series, All the Rivers Run, based on a novel by Nancy Cato and starring Sigrid Thornton and John Waters, was filmed in and around Echuca. The local paddle steamers PS Pevensey and PS Emmylou featured in the mini-series as the PS Philadelphia and PS Providence, respectively. The airing of this series around Australia and internationally revitalised Echuca's tourism economy.

In 1985, parts of the Australian telemovie My Brother Tom (based on the book by James Aldridge) were filmed in Echuca.

In the TV series Glitch, Vic, the district supervisor for the police forces of Echuca, the fictional Yoorana, and surrounding communities, is based in Echuca.

The ABC aired an episode of Get Krack!n on 6 February 2019 satirising morning television segments about regional food and wine tourism. There was some concern locally about how the episode depicted the town and its effect on tourism, although the intent of the segment was to "[poke] fun at commercial morning breakfast shows and their often-condescending portrayal of rural and regional areas".[20]

Echuca has a variety of restaurants.[21] Some that have been featured in the Age Good Food Guide include The Mill,[22] Black Pudding Deli[23] and Port 53.[24][25]

A major dining attraction in Echuca was the well known wharf-side restaurant Oscar W's.[26] It held a reputation for fine dining and was awarded a Chef's Hat in the 2013 Australian Good Food and Travel Guide[27] and had previously been awarded a hat by The Age Good Food Guide.[28] It closed in 2014.[29] A protracted dispute over the redevelopment of the site, including expensive repairs to a damaged retaining wall[30] and the lease of the historical wharf site being put out for tender[31] both played a part in the controversial closure.

The local newspaper, The Riverine Herald is published by McPherson Media Group[35] three days a week, featuring mainly local news.

Community radio station EMFM broadcasts in Echuca on the frequency of 104.7FM, at a power of 1 kW.