29 September 2024 - Robinvale to Murray Downs/Swan Hill

Up quite a bit after betimes today!

As predicted by the BOM, it began raining lightly at about 6.00 am. As a result the Prop was disinclined to pack up the Tadpole in the wet so we slept in a bit.

After finally rising at about 8.30 am, completing our ablutions and unsuccessfully attempting to pack up the Tadpole during breaks in the rain, we made our way in to Robinvale proper in search of a light breakfast. 

Alas! there was no traditional style café to be found. 

The "demographics" of Robinvale have in recent years undergone a profound shift. Many agricultural labouring tasks are now undertaken by migrant or short term visa workers from Viet Nam, the Phillipines, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. As a result the main street of Robinvale has changed accordingly. Many of the shops are now Asian or Pacific Island take-away restaurants and grocery stores which, no doubt, cater to the demands of the new local residents who have apparently not yet acquired a taste for cappuccinos and blueberry muffins.

Undaunted we pressed on (for an hour or more) until we crossed the mighty Murray River into NSW to reach the town of Tooleybuc where we found "The Old Butcher Shop Café" and were provided with an excellent, if somewhat late, breakfast.

The single lane bridge across the mighty Murray River - entrance to Tooleybuc

The Old Butcher Shop Café at Tooleybuc

The very striking "Country Club Hotel"

at Tooleybuc

The "Tooleybuc Punt Gate" - there has to be a pun in there somewhere!

.         The Bridgekeeper's Cottage

"Tom and Doigy's Pontoon" on the banks of the mighty Murray River.

A plaque which gives much more information about "Tom and Doigy's Pontoon" than the average tourist requires

In view of the forecast rain, the Prop had earlier taken the precaution of booking some salubrious accommodation at the "Murray Downs Resort" which, to the Prop's surprise, is located at Murray Downs in NSW and not in Swan Hill in Victoria and about 6 kilometres from the banks of the mighty Murray River.

The view from Room 23 at the Murray Downs Resort

Before travelling to the Murray Downs Resort we did a quick check of one of the main attractions at Swan Hill, the Giant Murray Cod!

.    The Giant Murray Cod at Swan Hill

                  (Not an actual fish)

The largest ever Murray Cod recorded was over 1.8 metres long and weighed 113 Kg.

Not far from the Giant Murray Cod can be found a monument which commemorates the fact that a Major Mitchell camped on the banks of the mighty Murray River on June 20th, 1834. The Prop is unsure how important this event was but infers from the fact that it took 100 years to erect the monument that it may not have been that significant.

The possibly significant "Major Mitchell Monument" on the banks of the mighty Murray River.