Cruising Down The Murray River

Cruising Down The Murray River

          It was a chilly winter day.  I was wearing a thick black leather jacket.  My companions too were prepared for the cold weather.  8 degrees, if I remember it right.  We were heading towards Echuca, an inland town of the State of Victoria.  We were scheduled to take a steamboat ride down the Murray River. I have had opportunities to ride in a standard boat, barge, raft or speedboat.  But to ride a steamboat or paddle steamer amidst gum trees by the riverbanks, that certainly perked up my excitement.

          My interest in steamboats began at an early age, while reading the books of the great writer Mark Twain as he tells stories about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn taking adventurous trips down the Mississippi River on board steamboats. Steamboats, of course, are powered by steam engines and at that point, I had not yet seen one.

            It had to be in Echuca as that town has a port where steamboats, or paddle steamers, are still being used. Knowing more about Echuca would be of great help.  Echuca, in the early days when trains were not yet widely used, was a strategic, vital point in the entire transportation network of the states of Victoria and New South Wales. Cruising up and down the Murray River, the Port of Echuca was the loading and unloading point of goods as well as commuters. The town of Echuca was then administratively headed by an ex-convict. He did well in his work. Trade flourished, people prospered.

          As we boarded MV Alexander Arbuthnot, I was looking at the size and make of the river boat.  It was really very old, surely a carry-over from the past. The color of the Murray River was olive green, indicative perhaps of clean or pristine water.  And as the steamboat sailed past other riverboats, sights of camping tents, trailers or caravans under the shade of eucalyptus trees brought back memories of my scouting days.  I was watching keenly as the old steamboat pilot, clad in maong suspender, added more chopped woods near the engine.  The young boy in my old body was taking control at that time. And the wind was blowing cold, very cold.

          There was no hassle during that one-hour cruise.  Trouble-free.  It was worth our time.  And as we disembarked at an old sawmill in Echuca, I thanked the pilot for a very comfortable ride. And while strolling around the town, I picked a manual at a Visitors' Information Center and started reading it.

           On one page was a list of steamboats offering cruises down the Murray River. Included was Alexander Arbuthnot, the same boat we took about half an hour ago. A short story revealed that MV Alexander was built in 1916, sank in 1947, stayed underwater for many, many  years, salvaged and raised only in 1972 and finally restored in 1989 by the Port of Echuca.  So there.

            That riverboat is in itself historical and that made our cruise a historic trip.  Never mind if the steamboat was involved in a tragedy many years back. Never mind.  For once, I experienced cruising down the Murray River on board a steamboat.  Just like Tom Sawyer.  Just like Huckleberry Finn.  Down the Mississippi River.

- Konted

Echuca is an inland town in the state of Victoria.  It is about 220 kms. away from Melbourne.

Visitors' Information Center in Echuca

The Port of Echuca has the largest fleet of old steamboats or paddle steamers in the world.

Welcome sign at the Port of Echuca

Steam Packet Inn is a very old lodging inn near the Port of Echuca.  It was built in 1870 and was a favorite watering hole  of those who worked in the river trade.

The famous Billabong Carriages group operates the horse-drawn rides  at the Port of Echuca  near the Murray River.

It takes you back to a bygone era.

This old warehouse was built in 1858 and is one of two oldest buildings in Echuca.

The Star Hotel was constructed in 1867 by the owners of  Shackell's  Bonded  Store.

A cottage-style cafe

A reminder of Echuca's glorious past

A gift shop inside a warehouse at the Port of Echuca

Wine in barrels

A local bar

Booking office

For souvenir shots

High quality woodcarvings

A man puts up a show of his own with a cockatoo and a gala bird.

An old movie house that still shows old silent movies.

$ 20 per person per ride; $ 50 package price for a family

Ready for the cruise

The Murray River as seen from the Port of Echuca

The old paddle steamer MV Alexander as viewed from the old sawmill

MV Alexander Arburthnot was built in 1916 and was used in commercial trade along the Murray River.

Paddle steamer's pilot

Old steam engine

Pilot adds chopped woods

The paddle that keeps the boat going.

MV Alexander can accomodate more than 40 passengers.

The Murray River is to Australia as the Mississippi River is to the United States of America.

Know more about the River Rats

A wider paddle steamer

The wind is now blowing cold.

More advanced river boats.

Rene R. on his way to the room at the 2nd level.

MV Alexander approaching a river bend

Boat- for -hire for special occasions

Approaching another bend

Other old paddle steamers

The MV EmmyLou

Souvenir items

Both a visitors' center and a gift shop. Echuca generates $250 million yearly from tourism.

Ice cream in winter

Hotel at the main road

Chinese resto where we had our lunch

Sweet and Sour Pork

Stir fried Noodles

White rice

Mixed Vegetables

Breaded Chicken

Still craving for Asian food

Our reliable service vehicle

Store selling camping equipment as Echuca is a known camping site

Camping utensils

How to do it

More cooking utensils made in Shepparton

Another store selling things needed in camping

Echuca's version of Fish n Chips

Passing through the City of Bendigo on our way home

Main street of the City of Bendigo

A serene lake in the town of Nagambie

Famous for their sandwiches

It is named Old Lake Kitchen as it is beside a beautiful lake.

Quick order, quick service

Old Lake snack house is popular among travelers.

Good coffee, too

Rene R taking the longer route just to have a bite of Old Lake's sandwiches

Remember  the name: Old Lake Cafe

Bonus pic:

A nice classic Ford Fairlane sighted in Greater Melbourne