Echuca

At the intersection of the Murray and Campaspe Rivers, Echuca became the largest inland river port in Australia, the Murray-Darling system allowing wool to be shipped from New South Wales to Victoria. With the opening of the rail link to Bendigo in 1864, Echuca had direct access to both the Melbourne market and the export trade of wool from Melbourne to Britain. Between 1865 and 1867 a huge wooden wharf took shape, 10 metres high, to cope with tidal change, and 75 metres long. By 1884 it had grown to 332 metres in length.