History

Learn about the historical significance and landmarks of the area.

Aboriginal History

The Pangerang Tribe were the original aboriginal inhabitants of the area, from Howlong to Berrigan, and are attributed with naming the twin towns. ‘Yarra’ means ‘water running over rocks’, and ‘wonga’ was named after the ‘wonga pigeon’ which were abundant in the region at the time. ‘Mulwala’ means ‘big lagoon’ or ‘big back water’.

Early Settlement

In 1842, explorer Hamilton Hume assisted his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Hume to form the ‘Yarrawonga Run’, built on a sand hill by a lagoon near the Murray River. Elizabeth was the first European to live in north east Victoria, and moved to the area with her nine children, after her husband John Hume was killed by bushrangers in Gunning. Read More.

Early Transport & Bridges of Yarrawonga Mulwala

Before the railway was extended to Yarrawonga in 1886, paddle steamers plied their way as far as Albury, transporting timber, wheat, wool and general merchandise. Construction of the first (wooden) traffic bridge began in 1889, and was completed in 1891. Three days of celebrations followed. Read More.

Lake Mulwala & The Yarrawonga Weir

In 1937 the first suggestions were made concerning the clearing of the red gum forest, to create an open area in the lake. Lake Mulwala was formed in 1939 when the Murray River was dammed at the Yarrawonga Weir as part of the Murray-Darling Irrigation Scheme. Prior to this, paddle steamers would traverse the Murray as far away as Albury to transport a wide range of merchandise, including timber, wheat and wool. This river traffic slowly petered out with the arrival of the railway in 1886.Construction of the weir began early in 1935, and was completed in 1939 as part of the Murray-Darling Irrigation Scheme.  The Yarrawonga Weir was built to raise the water level in the Murray River to ensure diversion of water via gravity. Read More. 

Keep a look out for interpretive signs around the lake in Yarrawonga and Mulwala explaining more about the history and importance of irrigation to the area, or pop into the Yarrawonga Mulwala Visitor Information Centre for more information.