Historic River Precinct

Historic River Precinct Review

A tour of the Historic River Precinct begins at the Port of Echuca office on Murray Esplanade, where you can purchase a ticket that gets you into several historic buildings. The Bridge Hotel was built by Henry Hopwood, ex-convict father of Echuca, who had the foresight to establish a punt, and then to build a bridge at this commercially strategic point on the river. The Star Hotel, built in the 1860s, has an underground bar and escape tunnel, which was used by after-hours drinkers in the 19th century to evade the police. The Historic Wharf displays the heavy-duty side of the river trade, including a warehouse, old railroad tracks, and riverboats. Among the vessels docked at the wharf is the PS Adelaide, the world's oldest operating wooden-hulled paddle steamer.

One-hour river excursions aboard the Adelaide (built in 1866), the historic Pevensey, Canberra, and Alexander Arbuthnot, and the Emmylou, a 19th-century style boat built in 1980-82 for a television series, are a refreshing treat at the end of a hot summer's day. The paddle wheelers depart regularly from 10 am to 4 pm; tickets are available from the port office or Bond Store on Murray Esplanade; a one-hour cruise on the PS Emmylou costs A$25.