A small town on 6,000 ha Lake Mulwala, which is the Murray River storage behind Yarrawonga Weir. It is now very much a tourist town which promotes aquatic sports and fishing on the lake.
Location: 262 km north of Melbourne on the Murray Valley Highway
Origin of name: of Aboriginal origin, said to mean 'place of flowing water'.
Brief history: in 1824, explorer Hamilton Hume assisted his brother John's widow to form the 'run' which eventually became known as Yarrawonga Station (John Hume had been killed by bushrangers whilst living in Gunning, NSW). Elizabeth took with her plans of a home that had been drawn up by an English architect for use in India and created Byramine Homestead. The elm trees she planted remain today, the oldest elm trees in Victoria. The village of Yarrawonga was founded in 1868, and by 1874 was large enough to justify the opening of a court house.
Natural features: Murray River; Mount Boomanoomana; Rocks Hill; The Boat Hill; Backhouse Hill; Native Dog Swamp
Built features: Lake Mulwala, Yarrawonga Weir (1939); paddle steamers Paradise Queen and Lady Murray; explosives factory; hydro-electric power station; Mulwala Canal (1935), allegedly the longest irrigation channel in the Southern Hemisphere (120 Km)
Heritage features: Old Yarra Mine Shaft; Byramine Homestead; Hallworth House; Tudor House Clock Museum; Yarrawonga Mulwala Customs House
Yarrawonga Weir
