Barmah

The township of Barmah sits on the banks of the Murray River, on a very picturesque river bend. Situated approximately 230km north of Melbourne, Barmah is best known as the gateway to the Barmah National Park. Barmah is the only town in Victoria which is north of the Murray River.

Barmah was surveyed and laid out in 1866, on rising ground near the punt. The old Barmah Punt can be seen adjacent to the Barmah Bridge. This punt was towed upstream from Euston to Barmah in 1929 and operated downstream of the current bridge until 1966. This was the third vessel to service the crossing since the 1860s, and it is the oldest remaining example of a cable point ferry crossing over the Murray River. It was pulled out of the river in 1966, and heritage listed in 2008.

The Cadell Fault is a continuous sand ridge stretching from Moama to Deniliquin in a general north south direction. Approaching Barmah from the west, one crosses the Cadell Fault two kilometres before reaching the Murray River at Barmah. The unusual geography can be explained by an earthquake that occurred over 25,000 years ago. This compelled the Murray River to take a new course to the north and west. Successive flooding 8,000 years ago saw the Murray River move in a southerly direction to its current course, forcing the river through the Barmah Choke or The Narrows.

Barmah

Barmah National Park

The Barmah Forest is a heritage listed region and home to the largest stand of river red gum trees in the world. The Barmah National Park covers 28,500ha and is made up of forest, swamps, lagoons, grasslands, lakes, creeks and channels. This is a wonderful area for camping, canoeing, bushwalking, fishing or enjoying a river cruise. The eastern end of the Barmah Forest contains many beautiful sandy beaches.

The narrowest section or ‘choke’ of the Murray River is located in the Park, bounded on either side by the Moira and Barmah Lakes. There are developed picnic and camping grounds with toilets, barbeques and picnic tables at Barmah Lakes and bush camping is permitted in designated sites along the river bank and on the sandy beaches.

The oldest river red gums in the Barmah National Park are over 500 years old. They often grow to thirty metres in height, with some reaching forty-five metres. More than eighty percent of the forest is covered by River Red Gums, sturdy trees whose trunks develop a gnarled, rock-like character. They tend to grow taller and branch out more heavily than other trees. Limbs and hollows in the trees are habitat and nesting places for birds and animals.

The biodiversity of the Park is extensive with over 236 species of birds, including the azure kingfisher and the endangered superb parrot. The varied environment also supports 50 mammal species, 30 species of reptiles, 8 frog species, 21 fish species and 500 species of plants. The forest is on a major flight path for migratory birds, as well as being an internationally significant wetland breeding ground for waterbirds. Platypus can sometimes be spotted in quiet backwaters.

Ulupna Island, in the north-eastern section of the Park, is home to a vast number of native wildlife. An early morning visit will not disappoint, with sightings of kangaroos and koalas virtually guaranteed. Ulupna Island can be accessed from the Murray Valley Highway on the western side of the township of Strathmerton.

Take the self-drive tour to sites of historical interest in the Barmah Forest, including the Muster Yard, Punt Paddock Lagoon, Cornalla Landing, Green Engine, The Gulf and Tongalong.

The Yorta Yorta Nation are people that comprise of 8 different clan groups, who lived in the area during the last 40,00 years. The rich environment along the Murray River has helped to support them,and descendants still live in the area and are involved in managing their heritage and the natural environment. There are more than 180 Aboriginal sacred sites in the region, and your respect of these are is appreciated.