We went to the town of Echuca first thing in the morning for a ride on a paddle wheel steam boat and to visit to the historic town. The first thing we did upon arriving in the town was have morning tea on the Rotary Pavilion in the park.
Echuca is at the cross roads of the Murray River and the railway to Melbourne and played an important role in the development of the economy of South East Australia. The river is navigable for over a 1000 km into the heart of the country and was an important link for carrying goods in and out of the area.
Steam boats were the main means of transportation and many still survive from the 1850's. They were made with red gum wood and are largely rot proof.
We had the pleasure of travelling for an hour up and down the river. It would have taken a week to get to the sea during the heyday of these boats.
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| Steam powered mills |
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| Cruising down the river |
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| Powerful paddle wheel. 15 hp. |
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| The wharf. The river has risen as high as the top in flood |
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| The ship's boiler built in the 1860s but looking new |
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| Guided tour of the town |
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| Everyone enjoys lunch at a hotel from the period. |
We also visited a Rotary club project at Horses for Hope. The club helped by contributing to building this outdoor corral.
Horses for Hope puts horses who need to develop trust together with kids (and adults) who need to develop those skills as well. Both benefit.
Barbara and I finished off with a nice meal and wine at our host's home in Tatura. Another great day.
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