In 1864 the railway connecting Melbourne to Echuca opened. This had an enormous effect on the town, with the resultant increase in trade turning Echuca into Australia’s largest inland port.
Place names of Victoria states that Echuca is an Aboriginal name meaning “meeting of the waters”. It was settled by Europeans in 1843 and by 1854 the population was 1500. Prior to the opening of the rail line, travel to Echuca from Melbourne took 22 hours; catch the train to Bendigo (then known as Sandhurst) for an overnight stay, then onto the 6 a.m. coach, arriving in Echuca at 5pm (The railways of Echuca, p 3). Before the rail line, trade was restricted to steamers and barges along the Murray. ‘The South Australians pioneered the river trade, but they quickly found that Victoria reacted strongly to the challenge for the wool trade of the vast Riverina, and for the supplying of stores and stations’ (Rich river, p28).
The train line also reduced the costs of goods. ‘Goods bought by steamer were up to thirty percent cheaper in Echuca than goods bought by dray in Melbourne’ (Echuca: a history, p 53). When the first train arrived, according to the Bendigo Advertiser ‘…the Echucians met the party with faces betokening astonishment and delight’.
T.4.D&M Railway. Recruiting train at Echuca, H1077
Echuca became the home port of the Upper Murray, with rivermen converging on the town. Shipping companies made their headquarters there, population trebled and by 1864, the number of licenced public houses had quadrupled. Melbourne merchants and wool buyers appointed agents to oversee trade between river steamer, train and carriers dray (Echuca: a history, p 93).
The railway also meet with the new wharf, which allowed for the immediate unloading and loading of goods. This surge in efficiency, situated close to three major rivers (Goulburn, Campaspe and Murray) resulted in Echuca growing into Australia’s largest inland port by the 1870s. This year marks the railway’s 150th anniversary.
The railway wharf, Echuca, IMP25/11/64/9
Victorian Railways, time at stations cards for main line, Echuca line and Ballarat line, H32088/81
The State Library holds a large collection of images related to railways and railroads.
The soundscape is terrific, my fellow commuters on the bus were delighted. really brings the story to life!
Thanks Ann- I love the sounds as well- helps me to imagine.
Paul
Hi Paul,
Here at the Port of Echuca we are about to mark 160 years of rail connection to Echuca. We have a modest event planned for September 21/22 and I wanted to ask permission to use this blog and supporting photographs to create a physical panel that will be free for visitors to look at. The model rail club are setting up their trains and I thought your story would support the context of the occasion. With thanks, Suzan
Hello, we are marking the 160 years of rail connection to Echuca with a modest event on September 21/22. I’d love to re-use this information and photographs in a physical display panel that will be free to visitors. I hope to receive permission to do this. Thanks so much for your help.
Hi Suzan,
Thanks for reading the blog. Yes; as all the images in the blog are out of copyright- so they are okay to use. You have my permission to use the blog for your event. There’s some dead links, which I will fix.
Hope it goes well,
Paul