He hails from Snowy River
14 Mar 2013
Banjo Paterson engraved the town’s story into Australia’s history books with The Man from Snowy River. As the nation looked to the bush for inspiration in developing an identity of independence, the poem conjured images of the heroics of the locals.
Legend has it that the Man himself is based on hermit stockman Jack Riley who was employed on the Greg Greg Station to run cattle. Banjo Paterson visited the Station several times before he penned the famous poem cementing Corryong as an important town in Australia’s story.
Situated in the Upper Murray, Corryong is just 11km from the Murray River and the foothills of the Australian Alps. It’s incredibly peaceful, and you can enjoy the magnificent views of Corryong and the valleys from many lookout spots.
In the Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park explore the diverse habitats of the region and walk to the top of Pine Mountain, a gigantic monolith 1.5 times larger than Uluru. While you’re there, visit Bluff Falls and watch the water stream off the plateau and into the serene grotto below. If you’re brave enough, you can also walk to the top of Mt Burrowa, whose peak is covered by snow for weeks on end.
Prepared to drive a little bit? Embery’s Lookout is at the top of Mount Mittamatite and provides spectacular views of Corryong with the Australian Alps as its backdrop. Plus, Avondale Gardens is just nearby where you can explore the trestle bridges.
If you’re in the mood for a bit of history, the Man from Snowy River Museum is the place to go. The museum showcases personal, leisure, domestic and working items from nineteenth and early twentieth century Australia. You can even visit Jack Riley’s grave and pay tribute to the Australian legend.
If you’re heading to Corryong in April, The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival encapsulates everything the Australian bush represents from Rodeos and busking to art and photography exhibitions, and the Bush Poetry State Championship. Evoking the imagery described by Paterson, the Man From Snowy River Re-enactment kicks off the festival. Watch in awe as horsemen risk their lives and limbs, chasing the lost horse down the steep slopes. You’ll definitely get a thrill from watching history come to life as you recall the words of that famous and all-important verse:
“But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head,
And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer,
And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed,
While the others stood and watched in very fear.”
Do you want to experience The Man from Snowy River and follow his path? The 2013 Probus Rendezvous features a full-day tour to the Upper Murray region including Corryong.
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