Day twelve Rest day in Echuca

May 18, 2018

After eating our breakfast of cooked oats we noticed that another family were also eating their breakfast. A family of Kookaburra's were sitting on the grass outside a cabin near us being feed by a young child.

Kookaburras are terrestrial tree kingfishers native to Australia and New Guinea, which grow to between 28–42 cm in length.

group of Little Corelas and two Galahs eating grass roots

In the morning we walked from the caravan park along Dickson Street and into High Street past the Bridge Hotel. Walking along the High Street we
stopped and looked into the shop windows of the Echuca Chocolate
Company, Steam Packet Inn, the Sweet Company, Fish in a Flash, the Read Heeler, and the Moama Bakery where we bought beautifully made sandwiches to eat on the road the next day.

view of the Bridge Hotel from High Street

"At the corner of Murray Esplanade and Hopwood Place is the Bridge
Hotel. This two-storey building was erected in 1858 by town founder
Henry Hopwood, (an ex-convict) across the way from his punt and pontoon bridge. It has been restored to its original design, including upstairs rooms furnished in period style with an expansive squatter's suite built for the accommodation of wealthy pastoralists. These rooms can be
seen as part of the Wharf Museum Tour".

from https://www.smh.com.au/news/australia/victoria/echuca/2005/02/17/1108500206427.html

Crossing the High Street we stopped at the Beachworth Bakery which stands in front of the Campaspe River, where we bought bread rolls to make up our own lunches and cakes for afternoon tea.

Campaspe River Sundeck sign behind the Beechworth Bakery. The river levels are low as they await the coming winter rains to arrive

Plaque next to Beechworth Bakery, showing spot in Echuca, Victoria where the first European's overlanding cattle from Howlong, NSW camped, on there way to Adelaide, South Australia 29th January 1838.

Continuing our walk through the Port of Echuca or along the High Street we took these photographs of historical buildings or plaques on historical buildings:-

Murray Esplanade, note the wooden gutters

Star Hotel next to Shacknell's Bonded Store, Murray Esplanade

"The former Star Hotel (1867) which has an underground bar and escape tunnel. The hotel lost its license in 1897 and consequently, although it continued to serve customers, it built a special escape route for drinkers so that they could get away during the police raids which commonly occurred".

from https://www.smh.com.au/news/australia/victoria/echuca/2005/02/17/1108500206427.html

Shacknell's Bonded Store, Murray Esplanade

view of Shacknell's Bonded Store from the High Street

Kelly's Fine Furniture now occupies the premises at 628 High Street, which stands next to The Star Hotel and Shacknell's Bonded Store

After eating lunch I walked from the NRMA Echuca Holiday Park (which was bordered by the Murray River on the east and Victoria Park on the west), along Crofton Street to Victoria Park.

Whilst eating breakfast we had seen a steady stream of coaches parking in Crofton Street, bringing students who were arriving for a school sports day. Now the students had gone and the park was quiet again.

Red Gum Memorial Arch at entrace to Victoria Park

“The Memorial Archway was originally erected for the visit of the Colonial Governor, Sir Henry Brougham Loch. It symbolises the train importance of the local redgum industry in Echuca, which supplied piles used in the construction of wharves in Geelong and Williamstown, sleepers for the railways, and export timber for use in India and other British colonies.

The Red Gum Memorial is a tangible reminder of the redgum pioneer, James Mackintosh, and his Echuca and Moama Redgum Sawmill Company which was once responsible for the employment of over 500 people. He was a prominent local citizen, being a Borough Councillor and Mayor, and an elder of the Presbyterian Church”.

fromhttp://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/technology/industry/display/31172-red-gum-memorial-archway

Beyond the arch is an obelisk to commemorate the pioneer and founder of Echuca, Henry Hopwood, who died in 1869.

15-April-2016 (Sandra Brown)

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