Echuca

Overview

Echuca’s economy is built on tourism, trading on natural features and a rich history. The town provides outstanding opportunities for you to find the locations you require whilst housing your crew in a modern, well-serviced town.

There is building stock representative of construction types from the 1870s to present day. Many heritage buildings are preserved from the founding of the region in 1853, particularly in the ‘heritage port precinct’, an authentic and operational 19th Century paddle-steamer river port. Upstream of Echuca are flood plains and red gum country, whereas downstream will bring you to dense forests and swamps. Within a half hour drive of Echuca north across the river the country presents as legitimate Australian outback or generic desert country. The country south of Echuca includes cropping, sheep and dairy farms, and a number of large horse studs.

Echuca is one of few places in Victoria where a film crew and cast can be accommodated appropriately in large numbers with such diverse shooting locations all within a half hour drive.

History

Echuca was founded in 1853, and quickly grew to be the largest and busiest inland port in Australia. As it is the closest point on the Murray River, freight from throughout the Murray-Darling system was loaded onto rail for shipment to and from Melbourne.

The port still exists, as do several working paddle-steamers, as tourist attractions operated by the Shire of Campaspe.

Echuca is on traditional Yorta Yorta land. Echuca is the nearest town to Cummeragunja, an Aboriginal Mission Station, where a famous 'walk-off' occurred in 1939. Cummeragunja is famous for the activism and strength of its people. Prominent Aboriginal leaders from the mission include Pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls and William Cooper. They fought not just for the people of their home, but for Aboriginal people across the nation.

Places of interest

Historic River Port (operational)
The Great Aussie Beer Shed
The National Holden Museum
Award-winning Restaurants
The Paramount Theatre
Access to the Murray River
Echuca Racing Club
Billabong Horse & Carriage Hire
Trail Rides and Ranch Several large horse studs

Accommodation

Echuca has in excess of 4200 beds with many accommodation providers that offer an excellent range of accommodation choices from heritage guesthouses, motels, hotels, holiday parks and B&Bs. Echuca offers a toll free telephone number for its accommodation booking office. This Office operates seven days a week and can be contacted on 1800 804 446 or online at www.echucamoama.com.

 

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