Travel: Echuca, Victoria

By Pamela and Gordon May

For caravanners and motorhomers who prefer camping in comfort, Echuca boasts splendid caravan parks with all mod-cons and recreational facilities. For nature-based campers, there are many riverside campsites within cooee of town. Some visitors mix the modes - time in the great outdoors, followed by the luxury of hot showers, power and washing machines.

We camped in Echuca Regional State Forest Park and barely budged because we had ringside seats to so much action: excited squeals came from youngsters towed on rubber rings behind a runabout. Older children skimmed past on waterskis, while houseboats cruised by. Yellow spoonbills foraged in a nearby billabong, and all around us barbecues ran hot for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

However, the star attraction was a spirited game of Murray River cricket - granted the pitch was slow and runners rarely made more than a single, but this was a whole new ball game, because fielders had to swim for the ball, runners waded down the 'pitch' and any ball hit up onto the bank was 'out'.

There was something quintessentially Australian about sitting in the shade of river red gums, watching people splashing about, enjoying outdoor games.

Camping neighbours compromised with their offspring: "One day in town, one day at camp." In this way the parents indulged their interests (history, jazz, wine) and the children spent alternate days in the river, from dawn to dusk. To mums' and dads' relief, the children fully enjoyed town. The adults reckoned it was because "Echuca highlights are not age-specific".

Following our little taste of Murray magic, we moved into an Echuca caravan park to sightsee. On many occasions we were reminded of the campers' remark about Echuca's allure.

Aboard paddle steamer Emmylou, the commentary kept everyone enthralled: boys were amused to learn Echuca's founding father (Henry Hopgood) was an ex-convict, and girls showed interest in Echuca being a Yorta-Yorta Aboriginal word for 'meeting of the waters', these being the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe rivers. Everyone seemed impressed about the length of the Murray (2500km) and the fact that in 1873 Echuca was Victoria's second-largest port, with a population of 1600.

Back on shore we checked out some local fine wines (purely for research purposes) before trying one of Echuca's al fresco restaurants. Street musicians livened the atmosphere with the sweetest swinging jazz we'd heard in ages... and adults were not the only passersby clicking their fingers in time!

Outside the National Holden Museum we heard two teenagers objecting to their folks 'forcing' them to go inside. Later, the same kids complained about being forced to leave, saying the cars were "so c-o-o-l!".

Their dream machine was a prototype tourer built by Holden apprentices. For us the entire collection, complemented by interpretive signs and films of Holden milestones, evoked fond memories of our younger years.

Amusement machines in Sharpes Magic Movie House & Penny Arcade fascinated visitors, even those born in the DVD and PlayStation era. There were pinball machines, gramophones, antique projectors, flickering 1920s silent movies, vintage record players - the Arcade had nostalgia-plus! We avoided testing Edison's Electric Brain Charging Machine; the homemade fudge in the foyer held much more appeal.

At the World of Wax Museum, Paul Hogan's image was a family favourite, but lifelike figures of pioneers were also intriguing. Henry Hopgood (the ex-convict) starred among Echuca's pioneers, having founded a ferry service, hotels and vineyards.

Echuca was fun to explore on foot: the Wharf Precinct, which served as a backdrop for the 1984 film, All the Rivers Run, resembles an outdoor museum with its drays, red pillar boxes, old phone booths, weighing machine and such. Costumed buskers and horse-drawn coaches animated the scene, and every historic building had a story. The Star Hotel, for instance, had an underground bar and escape tunnel. Why? They enabled the hotel to continue trading whenever its liquor licence was cancelled ... allegedly a frequent occurrence.

Racing back to the park, we agreed the campers were correct - Echuca highlights are for young and old. And yes, it was great to see different generations enjoying time together. But we had to hurry, as we were running late for happy hour, which was fortunately, 'age-specific'. Adults only. No kids allowed.

For further information, contact Echuca-Moama Visitor Information Centre on:
(03) 5480 7555 or 1800 804 446.