Echuca is Australia’s most iconic former paddlesteamer port. Its position at the closest point of the Murray River to Melbourne contributed to its development as a thriving river port city during the 19th century.
Echuca was founded by one of the most enterprising figures of Australia’s 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. By the 1870s Echuca had risen to prominence as Australia's largest inland port.
Echuca was not just a key river port but also an important railway junction. Its huge 1865-built timber wharf, with its three wharf decks to accommodate the river's ever-changing water levels, was the hub of the town’s business activities. Steam-driven paddleboats would arrive at the 332-metre long redgum wharf, their cargoes were unloaded by hydraulic cranes directly onto to goods wagons lined up on the wharf’s own railway station. The goods were then transported by rail to Melbourne. Wool, wheat, other grains, livestock, and timber were the most common commodities transported to Echuca.
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.
The town has re-invented itself as one of the most interesting inland tourist towns in Australia, whilst maintaining its position as an important local agricultural centre. Its present day attractions centre around the old port – the shops, hotels, stores and wharf that once served the river trade.
The wharf is still operational, and among the relics from the past found within it are a blacksmith's shop with operation furnace, and the original railway station.
From the late 1930's to at least the mid 1970's a daily school train brought students to the Echuca Wharf station from Kyabram, Tongala and other points along the way to the High School which was within walking distance of the wharf.
The train - a Leyland Railmotor - used to run along to the platform just on 9am with its two or three four wheeled trailers. The Leyland was a four-wheeled vehicle about 3.5 metres long with a guard/baggage compartment and a passenger compartment with seating for about twenty people. Walker motors and trailers were introduced in the early 1950's. An example is now part of the collection of the Daylesford Spa Country Railway.
A Walker Railmotor at Echuca
The driver and guard would uncouple the trailers, move the motor, and physically push the trailers on to a siding for the motor to come back down the line, clear the points and back on to the trailers to couple up. The wharf area at that time was derelict. The station yard was much bigger then and the trains could travel from Echuca station platform on to the wharf line without any problems, unlike the situation today.
The railway reached Echuca in 1864 and, with the opening of the Echuca Wharf, the town was transformed into a major river port, encouraging substantial urban growth in the 1870s. In 1876, the Deniliquin and Moama Railway Company opened its 71 km-long private railway northwards to Deniliquin.
The brick station building at Echuca was completed with the opening of the line, along with a double-gabled brick goods shed, and a three-road locomotive depot. The station building was expanded in 1877, and a large water tower was erected in the same year (demolished in 1977). An iron footbridge was added in 1880. The concrete rail bridge over the Murray River, to the north of the station, opened in February 1989, replacing a combined road and rail bridge that opened in 1878.
Echuca station has one platform. It is served by terminating Echuca line trains from Southern Cross. V/Line road coach services operate between Bendigo and Moama, and NSW TrainLink road coach services to Albury and Wagga Wagga.
The short branch line between Echuca and the port’s station on the redgum wharf was opened with the main line, but was closed in 1971. In 2000, funds were provided for the reconstruction of the line. By 2002, work was underway, however, but 5 years later, the branch was out of use and disconnected from the main line. It was reopened in October 2013.
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