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Echuca Victoria
Location of Echuca in Victoria (red)
Population:	12,358 (2006)[1]
Postcode:	3564
Elevation:	96 m (315 ft)
Location:	214 km (133 mi) N of Melbourne 91 km (57 mi) NE of Bendigo 76 km (47 mi) NW of Shepparton 3 km (2 mi) S of Moama (NSW)
LGA:	Shire of Campaspe
State District:	Rodney
Federal Division:	Murray
Mean Max Temp Mean Min Temp Annual Rainfall 22.2 °C 72 °F 9.4 °C 49 °F 427.1 mm 16.8 in

Echuca is a town located on the banks of the Murray River in Victoria, Australia. Twin town Moama is on the northern side of the river in New South Wales. Its location at the closest point of the Murray to Melbourne contributed to its development as a thriving river port city during the 1800s. At the 2006 census, Echuca had a population of 12,358.

Echuca, an Aboriginal name meaning "Meeting of the Waters" is indicative of the role rivers have played in the town's existence.^[2]Echuca is situated close to the junction of the Goulburn, Campaspe and Murray Rivers.

[edit] Origin and growth

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. The relatively small settlement known as "Hopwood's Ferry" became Echuca as the town grew. The Post Office known as Hopwoods Punt opened around 1854 and was renamed Echuca on 1 January 1855. ^[3]

While the settlers at Echuca treated the local Aborigines with relative kindness^{[citation needed]}, their way of life was irrevocably changed by their relationship with the Europeans. Having already been decimated by smallpox in the late 1820s, in the 1850s many Aborigines developed a taste for European luxuries such as bread, tobacco, and most tragically, alcohol. They were relegated to the role of fringe-dwellers, living on the banks of the Murray, and occasionally entering into the European economy as fishermen and farm labourers, and by selling the possum rugs which they crafted. Within a few short decades, their lifestyles had become unrecognisable from that of their ancestors.

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 Echuca's 400-metre long redgum wharf, unloading it to be 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 the 1870s.

[edit] Decline

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 her population began to disperse.

[edit] Today

Paddle Steamer PS Pevensey

The main industry in Echuca now is tourism, as visitors are attracted to the town by its warm climate, the river, its historical features such as the Port of Echuca, and sporting attractions, such as golf courses and lawn bowls greens. Annual activities include the Southern 80 waterski race (February) the Jazz, Food and Wine Festival (February) the Rotary Steam Horse and Vintage Rally (June) and the Red Cross Murray Marathon (December). The Port is home to the largest Paddle Steamer fleet in the world, which includes the world's oldest surviving wooden hulled paddle boat, the 1866 built PS Adelaide. In 1984 a 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 Steamer PS Pevensey, featured in the mini-series as the PS Philadelphia, still operates from the port. The airing of this series around Australia and internationally revitalized Echuca's tourism economy.

Dairy, wheat, sheep, pigs and cattle farming are also important to the region. Echuca's local government is managed by the Shire of Campaspe.

Echuca's sister city is Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.

[edit] Transport

Echuca-Moama Transit runs 3 services hourly to Echuca East, South & the town of Moama. The terminus is the Old Echuca Post Office on Hare Street. At the moment they are testing a service to 24 Lane and streets on the way to the lane which are near the Rich River Golf Club

V/Line operates the Echuca line rail service from the local station to Melbourne, via Bendigo.

Echuca Airport is also located outside the town.

[edit] Media

Echuca has its own newspaper called the Riverine Herald, which is released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Echuca also has a community radio station called Radio EMFM which broadcasts on the frequency 104.7 FM. The station has several presenters, as well as a program produced by the students of Echuca East Primary School.

[edit] Sport

The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Goulburn Valley Football League ^[4] and a team Echuca United competing in the Murray Football League.

[edit] Notable people

• In 1970, Echuca resident Leith Ratten was convicted of murdering his wife. His case became one of the most controversial in Victorian legal history.
• Model Travis Fimmel is from the town.
• AFL footballer Andrew Walker (Carlton)
• AFL footballer Daniel Connors (Richmond)

[edit] See also

• Echuca railway station

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Echuca, Victoria

• Echuca Moama Visitor Information Website
• Video on Echuca's Paddle Steamers
• Official Visitors Information for Echuca and its twin city Moama
• Echuca Wharf - Australian National Heritage listing

Coordinates: 36°08′S 144°45′E / -36.133, 144.75