She's Gone Walkabout

Today we started and finished our 11 k walk with larger than life murals. Just a step off High St near the start of Beavers Rd is this handsome mural on a wall of a building in a bluestone lane.

Bluestone laneways still run between now graffitied back fences and garage doors. Much of the bluestone has been removed but some bluestone remains as edging to roads, in laneways and on roads where side roads abut main roads. Bluestone was a popular construction material as local quarries operated in the area during the mid 1800’s.

Continuing down Beavers Rd to the Bridge across the Merri Creek and turning right onto the trail we continued north instead of turning back towards Ceres. The trail here is a wide footpath trail

The sun today a brilliant warm which glistened from the golden hats of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The wide path continued around the Northcote Velodrome and across the Morland Rd bridge where it continued on the opposite side. We didn't take this option and walked under the bridge where a smaller dirt track also followed the Merri Creeks course.

Gums lined and bowed over the creek.

Our walk along this side of the creek was interesting and varied.

The sun still brilliant added colour and shade to the path.

A small grove of pines was a popular spot on the water.

A small bridge brings the Merri Creek Trail back onto our side of the creek just before CERES Joe's Market Garden.

After passing under the Bell St Bridge a track to the left leads to Bowdon Reserve and Bell St. The Trail continues from here for approximately 10 kilometres to the Metropolitan Ring Road at Thomastown. That can be another walk another day. We exited the trail here and walked onto Bell St.

Two hundred meters later and we were passing Coburg Cemetery where a sign proclaimed that we could own our own piece of history as space was still available. Coburg Cemetery began life in 1856 and is one of the oldest cemeteries in Melbourne.

At Gilbert Rd we left busy Bell St for a quieter walk, then turned left onto Miller St. After crossing St Georges Rd we walked down Miller St past the tram depot and along the tram line made famous in the 1986 movie Malcolm.

It was then back onto High St and past this dreamscape mural. Our total walk for the day a relaxing 11 kilometres.

Because of line work the train to Swan Hill that I had booked had morphed into a bus. It was the last day of track works and as I alighted from the bus at Swan Hill, the train that I had booked pulled slowly into the station, empty. Now all I had to do was to wait for the bus to Mildura to complete my journey. There was confusion and no signs as several busses returning to Melbourne came and went parking wherever they could find a space.

I eventually arrived to my home town of Robinvale into a 39 degree day. It was a bit of a change from Melbourne’s 25 degrees. The old Robinvale railway station still there and restored but no longer in use. A more recent information centre is now the hub for the Vline services. Opposite this the Rural Museum. An amazing place to visit for a walk through the past.

For a gold coin donation be reminded of an era now almost forgotten. Inside and outside of the museum, the past comes to life, the variety of items on show is amazing. From everyday items, old tools, washing machines, uniforms, the list is endless.

This old Reo Speedwagon

Yes please

And a bit of escapism.

Looking down the beautified Main Street from the station.

Turning left And walking towards the river there is a walkway through more local history. All that remains now of the old bridge that crossed the Murray River and flood plains is the lift span. Not exciting history but still history. As kids it was a treat to see the span lifted to allow for water traffic. It was not something that happened very often. When originally built the old bridge was unique as it incorporated a railway line.

A large new memorial to all of the armed forces, each one represented.

Crossing the main road and continuing towards the river is the windmill by the bridge. It is reputed to be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and was built in 1948 to supply water to the township.

Beautiful Gum flowers are out in bloom

…and you know you are in the country when you see this sign…

The Murray River is Australia’s longest river at 2508 kilometres and it is the third longest navigable river in the world. It starts its journey in the Australian Alps. The Murray River now forms much of the border between Victoria and New South Wales. The river then meanders it’s way through South Australia before meeting the Southern Ocean at Goolwa near Adelaide.

Early morning on the Murray at Robinvale

Beginning at the start of The Cut – where the river broke through and formed an island the walk through river history begins.

Houseboats now inhabit the banks of the Murray. There are a series of nine boards along the path that meanders from here to the bridge. They tell the stories both old and new.

At one time the island now formed by the Cut was a place of significant culture and heritage to the local aborigines. On Bum Bang Island there are many canoe trees, middens and artefacts.

On the far left bank still visible are the remains of a barge that broke away in the 1939 flood. The Barge was once used to transport livestock across to Bum Bang Island.

The beauty of the river

River gums

Built in 1926 the home of the founders of Robinvale, Herbert and Margaret Cuttle sits facing the river. It is now a museum.

More river beauty.

Two sentinels stand outside the Civic Centre near the bridge. To the left John Egge came here from China and started working on riverboats in 1854 a year after the first boats travelled on the Murray. He became very successful and was very generous to those in need. The man to the right represents the woodcutters. In the paddlesteamer heyday over 200 boats travelled the Murray. Each burnt over half a ton of dry red gum an hour. Woodcutters supplied wood for the paddlesteamers. The Captains would take what they needed and leave a note to pay later.

From home it is a short two kilometre walk to the start of todays walk commencing at the Robinvale Bridge. Beginning my walk over the bridge I could see people out enjoying the water even though the summer hasn’t quite arrived. Along the purpose made walkway it is only a few hundred metres across the river to the steel stairway that spirals down to the floodplain below.

Once at the bottom of the stairs a man made path lead to a picnic bench on the river so I turned toward the river. The trail stopped there. Looking downstream there was a rutted dirt track and a rusted barely there fence and gate. Beyond the fence a sign nailed to a tree forbade entry. Ah guess the trail doesn’t run along the river.

I retraced my steps and followed the wide made path further along and then under the bridge. Nature was beginning to encroach on the edges of the path and it was jagged with dried grasses.

A sign showed that it was two kilometres to Euston. Further along another sign announcing that there was drinking water in 600 metres.

The drinking water was at a small rotunda on the river side of the track and here it was the most picturesque part on the walk. The rotunda looked out over a field of water trees.

Around the rotunda tall slender trees stood proudly in a thick bed of dried eucalyptus leaves and twigs. With the day being very warm the aroma from the eucalypts was soothing and relaxing.

Large trees with their roots snaking over the surface

and colour everywhere. It really was a beautiful spot to sit and relax awhile.

I arrived at Euston through a new housing estate. The town of Euston is small and pretty with a township of five by five streets. At the far side on the river is the Euston Club and Resort. Euston is an old town with much history. From the mid 1800’s until the first bridge was built over the Murray at Robinvale a punt brought livestock, supplies, workers and people on the Cobb and Co. Coaches across the river into the heart of town. At the top of a long narrow park which leads down to the river there are fascinating history boards. In the park a variety of Australiana.

On my return journey at the bridge I noticed the trees by the water’s edge. Some still clinging tenaciously to the eroding bank line and other that had fallen.

My walks have all started from home but the posts start from different places. Today I start from under the bridge that I had walked across yesterday to follow the river around and view Euston from the Punt crossing site on the Victorian bank. Near the start of my walk is the historic walk sign no. 9 which is just past the bridge. It is a canoe tree. The history board tells how a bark canoe is made and that this tree was the source of the last bark canoe made in the Robinvale area. The canoe was made around 1980 as part of the documentary River People.

I cannot help but marvel at the beauty of the bush

and the beauty of the river

I walked along the river for about 100 metres but then found I could go no further.

I walked up the embankment to the dirt road that pushed its way through beautiful bushland to Punt Bend.

Past trees with spiders legs with a view of Euston in the distance.

Past the rotunda and forest of water trees on the opposite bank that I had admired so much yesterday

to Punt Bend,

and the view across the water that had been my destination for today

I chose to go home down the centre road as I had not planned my return journey and I was not to sure where the road that continued around the rivers bend would take me. The centre road ran parallel to the power lines that ran from Robinvale and passed across the river to Euston. It was not a particularly nice walk but it got me to where I wanted to be. The rutted road showed why signs around the river advise that the roads are dry weather roads only. Along the way kangaroos hopped across the path in front of me so that was a bonus.