Murray and High Country of Victoria

05 Dec 2013

Twenty-six members of the Nambucca River Combined Probus Club set off for a seven days coach tour of the Murray and High Country of Victoria. 

Being such a diverse region, each day there were different historic towns with their own unique attractions to explore and experience, beginning with a bus tour of Yarrawonga, then Mulwala. There members boarded paddle steamer Paradise Queen for morning tea and a cruise on Lake Mulwala which is part of the largest irrigation system in the southern hemisphere. From there to Glenrowan, the site of the final siege and capture of the Kelly Gang in 1880, for what was a very interesting and entertaining theatre production of Ned Kelly’s last stand brought to life using animatronics and computerised robots. Then onward to Ned Kelly’s hometown of Benalla which is also the setting for memorials to each of Australia’s two greatest war heroes, Sir Edward Ernest 'Weary' Dunlop and Captain Hector Waller. 

The following day the group travelled through the highlands to the beautiful towns of Bright and Myrtleford with a morning tea stop at the Red Stag Deer and Emu Farm in Eurobin. The 375-acre property borders Mt Buffalo NP and offers stunning panoramic views of the Ovens Valley and surrounding snow capped mountains in Victoria’s High Country.

Next day memers toured the historic towns of Moama and Echuca, the paddle steamer capital of Australia with its massive redgum wharf and paddle steamers presenting a panorama of living history. Included was a cruise on the Murray River and morning tea aboard Pride of the Murray.

On the last full day in the region the group travelled to the former gold mining town of Beechworth. At the Old Priory, formerly known as the Brigidine convent of Mt. St. Joseph, everyone enjoyed Devonshire tea while being entertained by Lazy Harry, followed by a look around the beautiful historic building and its charming gardens. 

Members were then joined by a local guide for an informative tour of the town to learn about Beechworth’s golden past, its historic buildings and local legends, followed by a guided tour of the old courthouse, the setting for more than 130 years of some of Victoria’s most fascinating court cases. It was in this very courthouse that Ned Kelly was tried, convicted and sentenced to hang. This was followed by a surprise re-enactment of the trial, with a number of our members being selected for the various roles and provided with their costumes and appropriate scripts. 

With a little ‘ad-lib’ thrown in, it proved a very entertaining session indeed! 

From Beechworth the group travelled via the lovely town of Chiltern and finally to Campbell’s winery in Rutherglen for a wine tasting … the perfect opportunity to take home some of their very fine wines.  

From the base in Yarrawonga the group was taken to a different venue in the region every evening for dinner. The two stand-out evenings were at the Byramine Homestead, one of the oldest buildings in Victoria, steeped in history of colonial times and part of the original Yarrawonga Station. Surrounded by the largest vegetable farm in Victoria, the meal was based around the vegetables, wine and fruit being harvested on their farm. The other was a fun filled evening at the Yarrawonga and Mulwala Golf Resort where we were entertained by, and danced to the music of a local musician.

It was a memorable week taking in the sights and atmosphere of the beautiful towns with their own history and unique attractions whilst enjoying the company and camaraderie of fellow club members.