Suzan Dalziel, Mark Francis and Gerard Oman from the Port of Echuca.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The Port of Echuca will celebrate 50 years of tourism on Saturday, October 19, and Sunday, October 20.
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The port has long been regarded as a heritage site. However, the transformation of the port into a tourist attraction in the 1970s gave it renewed life.
Port of Echuca marketing officer Gerard Oman said the celebration aims to honour the people and events who worked to preserve the legacy of the port.
“[We are] celebrating being a tourist attraction for 50 years and giving thanks to those who had the foresight to help preserve not only the wharf and paddlesteamers but the surrounding buildings in Murray Esplanade,” he said.
“Without their passion and vision the area would be a lot different and we would have lost the soul and the stories of this historic area of Echuca.”
Port of Echuca chief executive Mark Francis aboard the PS Pevensey.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The port was originally built in 1865 and with the railway from Melbourne reaching Echuca only a year prior, the town saw great growth as the closest point on the Murray River to Melbourne.
Echuca became the major meeting point for the communities along the Murray to bring their goods to be sold in the major cities.
However, as the railways slowly became the preferred mode to transport goods, the port saw a decline in usage.
In an effort to preserve its legacy, the port, including the paddlesteamers and buildings on the Murray Esplanade, was restored and transformed into a tourist attraction in 1974.
In 1975, the Port of Echuca was officially declared a historic precinct.
Port of Echuca chief executive Mark Francis on the restored wharf.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Today, the port has grown to become a popular tourist attraction for all who come to Echuca.
To celebrate 50 years since opening as a tourist attraction, port staff are pulling out all the stops.
The event will start at 10am on Saturday with an official cake-cutting ceremony to be held on the wharf at 12.30pm.
A special screening of local film footage from the 1970s regarding restoration of the port will also be shown in the old woodturners building at 2pm.
Echuca-Moama Theatre Company members and a town crier will set the atmosphere as they roam around the port in period costumes.
There will be plenty to see with various displays including the Rob Dingey model boat display, vintage machinery club display, vintage cars, rope-making demonstrations and a blacksmith demonstration.
From 11am to 6pm there will also be live music and a licensed bar on the Echuca wharf.
The paddlesteamer rides, guided walking tours and port after dark tours will continue and the museum will also be free all weekend.
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