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| Fishing
beside the Murray down river from Barmah
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Barmah
Small Murray River township
Barmah is a small Murray River town located 236
km north of Melbourne and about 30 km north-east
of Echuca. It is best-known as the gateway to
the superb Barmah State Forest which contains
the largest redgum forest in the world.
The area was occupied by the Yorta Yorta
people prior to European settlement which
occurred in the 1870s. A state school was
established in 1876, at which time there were
around 100 people in the vicinity. St Michael's
Catholic Church was built in 1877 and the Barmah
East Wine Palace, now known as Moira Lakes Wine
Palace, was built sometime between 1876 and
1880.
Things to see:
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Tourist Information
The Barmah General Store and Post Office (tel:
(03 5869 3219) or the Dharnya Centre, tel: (03)
5869 3302.
Barmah State Forest and the Dharnya Centre
Barmah State Forest (29 500 ha) is situated upon
the floodplains of the Murray River. The
combination of the Barmah State Forest and the
Moira State Park (in NSW) forms the largest
redgum forest in the world. It has a World
Heritage listing. It is on a major flightpath
for migratory birds and is an important breeding
ground for waterbirds. Some of the trees in the
forest are estimated to be over 300 years old
and are over 40 m high. There are a number of
canoe trees and ancient middens in the forest.
Evidence that Aborigines inhabited this area
long before Europeans arrived.
In winter the area usually floods creating a
wetland biosphere which becomes a breeding
ground for birds (there are 206 species in the
forest). Consequently it is a popular spot for
birdwatching, as well as fishing, walking,
boating, camping, picnicking and car touring.
However, in the wet season, the tracks are
flooded and canoeing becomes a preferred means
of exploration. Gondwana Canoe Hire are located
on Moira Lakes Rd between Barmah and the forest.
They have a drop-off service, tel: (03) 5869
3347. Emus, kangaroos, wild horses, reptiles and
amphibia are also found in the forest.
The forest occupies an area which borders the
southern bank of the Murray from a point due
north of Barmah and stretching eastwards to
Morgans Beach, not far from Cobram. Two sections
at the easternmost and westernmost fringes of
the forest are technically known as 'Barmah
State Park'.
The western section is 9 km north of Barmah
and is accessed by Moira Lakes Rd which is
unsealed but manageable in a 2WD. Just after it
crosses Broken Creek on Rices Bridge there is a
side road on the left that leads to a day
visitor area where the Murray River, Moira Creek
and Barmah Lake meet. There is a boat ramp, a
fireplace, a picnic area and toilets.
Beyond this branch track Moira Lakes Rd
becomes Sand Ridge Track. It soon passes another
side road on the left which leads to the Barmah
Lake Camping Area before arriving at the Dharnya
Aboriginal Centre where there are displays
relating to the history and culture of the Yorta
Yorta Aboriginal community, the forest and their
association with it. Information can be obtained
here concerning a forest drive and walking
tracks. There is also accommodation available.
World Forestry Day is celebrated at the centre
in mid-March. It is open from 10.30 a.m. to 4.00
p.m. daily, tel: (03) 5869 3302.
Three walking tracks start from the Dharnya
Centre. The Lakes Loop Track takes in Aboriginal
middens, passes the edge of Barmah Lake, the
campground, the day visitor area, following the
Murray for a short distance before it veers off
to pursue Broken Creek. When it arrives at Rices
Bridge you can either follow Sand Ridge Track
back to the visitor centre (making it a 4 km
return walk), or continue via the Broken Creek
Track (making it 5.5 km) which starts at the
rear of the Dharnya Centre. The latter walk
follows the edge of a marshland area through
river redgum and greybox woodland to Broken
Creek which it follows downstream past
Aboriginal middens and Rices Weir to Rices
Bridge where you can follow Sand Ridge Track
(3.5 km) back to the centre or continue along
the Lakes Track (5.5 km).
The other track is the Yamyabuc Discovery
Trail (1.5 km return) which explores river
redgum forest around the centre. An accompanying
brochure outlines natural and cultural features
of the forest including the stock yards, a canoe
tree and middens.
There are many point of access to the
sections of forest (and park) which lie to the
east. Departure roads head northwards off the
Barmah-Picola Rd and the Murray Valley Highway.
However rain, flooding and seasonal closure
affect access. Ring (03) 5866 2702 for a report
on the state of the roads.
Barmah Island Forest Drive
Barmah Island is the section of land to the
north-west of Barmah which is sandwiched between
the Murray River on the western side and Barmah
Creek on the eastern side. The Forest Drive
starts from the Barmah Town Gates at the end of
Schier St and then heads off along River Rd
which is 2WD-friendly but dusty when dry. After
about 1.5 km the road veers north-east to follow
the southern bank of Barmah Creek for about 1 km
before turning left over the crossing. If the
creek is flooded it is necessary to take a sharp
right onto a 1-km track which will take you east
to Moira Lakes Rd where you can turn right to
Barmah.
If the creek is fordable veer left once
across the creek and River Rd follows the
northern bank of Barmah Creek to the Murray
River junction. It then follows the river north
for about 2.5 km. If Pontoon Creek is flooded
turn right at this point onto the Centre Track
which loops back around to the Barmah Creek
bridge. If it isn't, continue along River Rd
which follows the Murray around to the northern
end of Moira Lakes Rd by Rices Bridge.
Bushcamping is permitted anywhere along this
route.
Kingfisher Wetland Cruises
Two-hour interpretive cruises of the lakes and
forest are available on Mondays, Wednesdays,
Thursdays and Sundays from Kingfisher Wetland
Cruises which are located just off Moira Lakes
Rd (take the left off the bitumen just past the
bridge). They operate daily in holiday periods
if numbers are sufficient. The cruises focus on
the ecology and history of the forest, the
birdlife and its habitats and the Aboriginal
significance of the area, tel: (03) 5869 3399.
Moira Lakes Wine Palace
This is an original wine palace which is located
in the Barmah Forest and was licensed between
1888 - 1922. It is where the first permanent
white settler (Joseph Rice, also known as
"Governor") came to live in 1856 and started up
the Murray Fishing Company. From here fish were
transported to the goldfields in Bendigo and to
the markets in Melbourne. As well leeches were
collected and exported to London in the 1860's
for medical research.
The building was in very poor condition when
it was purchased by Robyn and Chris Mitchell in
1993, restored and opened as 'Moira Gums
Gallery'. Chris Mitchell is a full time
craftsman/woodturner in River Red Gum and his
work is on display in the gallery and well as
Bungendore Wood Works Gallery near Canberra.
