Editing Echuca

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type     = town
| name     = Echuca
| state    = vic
| image    = {{Photomontage
 | photo1a      = EchucaWharf.JPG
 | photo2a      = Echuca-Moama rail bridge Stevage.jpg  
 | photo3a      = Hotel -- IMG 2196.jpg   
 | photo3b      = Echuca Anglican Church-1 (cropped).jpg|500x500px  
 | size         = 250|position=center
 | color        = white
 | border       = 0
 | foot_montage =  
}} 
| caption  =  
| coordinates = {{coord|36|08|0|S|144|45|0|E|display=inline,title}}
| lga      = Shire of Campaspe
| pushpin_label_position = left
|local_map=yes| use_lga_map = yes
| postcode = 3564
| est      = 
| pop      = 15056
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes = <ref name="ABSSAL">{{Census 2021 AUS | id = SAL20838| name = Echuca | accessdate = 14 November 2022 | quick = on}}</ref>
| elevation= 96
|area=140.1|timezone=[[UTC10|AEST]]|utc=+10| maxtemp  = 22.2
| mintemp  = 9.3
| rainfall = 428.4
|near-nw=[[Wharparilla]]
|near-n=[[Moama]]
|near-w=[[Echuca West]]
|near-e=[[Echuca Village]]
|near-sw=[[Bamawm]]
|near-s=[[Strathallan, Victoria|Strathallan]]
|near-se=[[Koyuga]]
|county=[[County of Rodney, Victoria|Rodney]]
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Murray Plains|Murray Plains]]
| fedgov = [[Division of Nicholls|Nicholls]]
|timezone-dst=[[UTC11|AEDT]]|utc-dst=+11| dist1    = 214
| dir1     = N
| location1= Melbourne
| dist2    = 91
| dir2     = NE
| location2= [[Bendigo, Victoria|Bendigo]]
| dist3    = 76
| dir3     = NW
| location3= [[Shepparton, Victoria|Shepparton]]
| dist4    = 3
| dir4     = S
| location4= Moama
}}

'''Echuca''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|tʃ|uː|k|ə}} {{respell|ə|CHOO|kə}})<ref>''[[Macquarie Dictionary|Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition]]'' (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. {{ISBN|1-876429-14-3}}</ref> is a town on the banks of the [[Murray River]] and [[Campaspe River]] in [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]. The border town of [[Moama]] is adjacent on the northern side of the Murray River in [[New South Wales]]. Echuca is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the [[Shire of Campaspe]]. As of the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Echuca had a population of 15,056,<ref name="ABSSAL"/> and the population of the combined Echuca and Moama townships was 22,568.<ref name="ABSSUA">{{Census 2021 AUS | id = 2007| name = Echuca - Moama | accessdate = 14 November 2022 | quick = on}}</ref>

Echuca lies within traditional [[Yorta Yorta]] country. The town's name is a [[Yorta Yorta language|Yorta Yorta]] word meaning "meeting of the waters".<ref>{{cite web
 |url= https://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/council/about-council/proud-past/
 |title= Proud past
 |work= Official website
 |publisher= [[Shire of Campaspe]]
 |access-date= 2018-04-19
}}</ref> Echuca is close to the junction of the [[Goulburn River (Victoria)|Goulburn]], [[Campaspe River|Campaspe]], and [[Murray River|Murray]] Rivers. Its position at the closest point of the Murray to [[Melbourne]] contributed to its development as a thriving river port city during the 19th century.

==History==

===Origins===

The riverine plains of the Goulburn Broken catchment are the traditional lands of the Yorta Yorta nation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/our-region/traditionalowners/yortayorta | title=Yorta Yorta Nation |website=Goulburn Broken CMA |access-date=23 October 2022 }}</ref> Their population before European contact is estimated to have been approximately 2400. The Yorta Yorta were dispossessed of their traditional lands and left to eke out an existence on the edges of European settlements as remnant tribal groups.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/long-history-behind-yorta-yorta-land-claim |title=Long history behind Yorta Yorta land claim  |first=Wendy |last=Robertson |date=8 September 1993|website=Green Left |access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

Present-day Echuca was founded by one of the most enterprising figures of the early colonial period, an ex-convict named [[Henry Hopwood]]. In 1850 he purchased a small punt to ferry people and goods across the Murray River near the Campaspe junction. The small settlement known as Hopwood's Ferry grew to become the town of Echuca. The Hopwood's Punt Post Office opened around 1854 and was renamed Echuca Post Office on 1 January 1855.<ref name="a">{{cite web |website=Echuca Lions Club |title=Our Town's Heritage |url=https://echuca.vic.lions.org.au/ |access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>
<!-- photo https://www.au.fotonail.com/e/echuca/echuca.html -->

===Australia's inland port===
By the 1870s, Echuca had risen to prominence as Australia's largest inland port.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} Being the point of shortest distance between the Murray River and the major city of Melbourne, Echuca was both a key river port and railway junction. [[Paddle steamer]]s would arrive at the 332-metre long [[redgum]] [[Echuca Wharf]], were unloaded by hydraulic crane, and the goods then transported by rail to Melbourne.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} [[Wool]], [[wheat]], other grains, livestock, and timber were the most common commodities transported to Echuca. The wharf has been listed as a Heritage Place on the [[Australian National Heritage List]].

This industrial boom led to a rapidly expanding population, from 26 inhabitants in 1854 to 4789 during the peak year of 1871. More than 80 [[Australian pubs|pubs]]/hotels serviced the needs of the town, but it is rumoured that many more [[sly-grog shop]]s, wine shanties, and beer houses, circumventing licensing laws existed in the area. An iron bridge was constructed over the Murray River in 1878 by the NSW Railways Department.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.echuca.ws/Architecture-and-Buildings/Echuca-Moama-Bridge.html |title=Hughes Trueman Reinhold 1998, Murray River Crossings Heritage Assessment Report Echuca-Moama Bridge, prepared for the Roads and Traffic Authority NSW |access-date=22 September 2014 |archive-date=29 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329074805/http://www.echuca.ws/Architecture-and-Buildings/Echuca-Moama-Bridge.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Decline===
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2023}}
The expansion of the railways from Melbourne to most parts of Victoria, as well as improvements to roads and fickle river conditions all combined to lessen Echuca's importance, and by the 1890s the paddle steamer fleet was in decline. An economic [[Recession|depression]] and the collapse of several banks virtually ended Echuca's role as a major economic centre, and its population began to disperse.

==Population==
As of the {{CensusAU|2021}}, there were 15,056 people in Echuca.<ref name="ABSSAL"/>
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 4.1% of the population. 
* 85.3% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 1.7% and New Zealand 1.1%.
* 89.4% of people spoke only English at home. 
* The most common responses for religion were No Religion 42.7%, Catholic 21.8% and Anglican 12.4%.

==Governance==
[[File:EchucaCampaspeShireOffice.JPG|thumb|200x200px|left|Campaspe Shire Council Building]]
Echuca is the administrative centre for the Campaspe Shire Council.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/ |title=Campaspe Shire Council |website=Campaspe Shire Council |access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

At the state level, Echuca is represented by the [[Electoral district of Murray Plains]].

At the federal level, Echuca is represented by the [[Division of Nicholls]].

==Economy, landmarks and retail==
[[File:Fountain Plaza, Echuca interior.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Inside the Fountain Plaza shopping arcade]]
The main industry in Echuca is [[tourism]]; it earns about $250 million a year for the Echuca economy.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} Visitors are attracted to the town by its climate, the Murray River and its paddle steamers, recreational attractions, several festivals and historical features, some of which have come to public awareness by the [[Nancy Cato]] novel ''[[All the Rivers Run]]'', which was made into a TV miniseries.

Echuca is also a major regional service economy.

Agriculture is very important to the region. Dairy, wheat, sheep, pig, and cattle farms are all within close proximity.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

==Culture==

===Paddle steamers===
[[File:PS Pevensey.JPG|thumb|{{PS|Pevensey}}]]

The port is home to the largest paddle steamer fleet in the world, which includes the world's oldest operating wooden hulled paddle steamer, {{PS|Adelaide}} built in 1866. There are several historic vessels operating out of Echuca on a daily commercial basis, such as PS ''Pevensey'' (built 1911), PS ''Alexander Arbuthnot'' (built 1923), PS ''Adelaide'' (built 1866) operating from [[Echuca Wharf]] itself, {{PS|Emmylou}} (built 1980 with a steam engine in use from 1906), PS ''Canberra'' (built 1913) and PV ''Pride of the Murray'' (built 1924 as a logging barge ''C24'') operating from Riverboat Dock, a short distance downstream from the main wharf. These vessels conduct four to six 1-hour cruises daily, while ''Emmylou'' offers lunch, dinner, and scenic cruises. There are also a number of privately owned paddle steamers in Echuca, including PS Hero, PS Henry Charles, and the former Church of England mission steamer, [[PS Etona]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.echucamoama.com/echuca-moama-paddlesteamers | title=Explore the Region &#124; Paddle Steamers &#124; Echuca Moama }}</ref> As well as the paddle steamers there are numerous houseboats, many of which can be hired. MV ''Mary Ann'' (built 1981) operates as a cruising restaurant all year round.

The Port of Echuca is also restoring {{PS|Success}} to full working order. When operational, it will be added to the fleet of paddle steamers at Echuca Wharf.<ref name=Port_of_Echuca>{{cite web |url=http://www.portofechuca.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=57 |title=P.S. Success |publisher=Port of Echuca |access-date=22 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409060957/http://portofechuca.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=57 |archive-date=9 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Events and festivals===
Annual events held in Echuca include the [[Southern 80]] waterski race, the largest waterski race in the world, (February), the Riverboats Music Festival (February),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.riverboatsmusic.com.au/faqs|title=FAQS|website=Riverboats Music Festival}}</ref> the Echuca-Moama Weddings Expo (May),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to the Echuca Moama Wedding Expo |url=http://echucamoamaweddingexpo.com.au/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404214610/http://echucamoamaweddingexpo.com.au/ |archive-date=4 April 2019 |access-date=15 March 2023 |website=Echuca-Moama Weddings Expo}}</ref> the Echuca Rotary Steam, Horse and Vintage Rally (Queens Birthday weekend in June)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Echuca Steam Horse and Vintage Rally |url=https://www.echucasteamrally.com.au/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627154804/https://www.echucasteamrally.com.au/ |archive-date=27 June 2019}}</ref> and WinterBlues Festival (July).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://winterblues.com.au/|title=Winter Blues - Blues Festival In Echuca}}</ref><ref>Echuca Moama Tourism</ref>

===In popular culture===
In 1983, the Australian television mini-series, ''All the Rivers Run'', based on a novel by [[Nancy Cato]] and starring [[Sigrid Thornton]] and [[John Waters (actor)|John Waters]], was filmed in and around Echuca. The local paddle steamers ''Pevensey'' and ''Emmylou'' featured in the mini-series as PS ''Philadelphia'' and PS ''Providence'', respectively. The airing of this series around Australia and internationally revitalised Echuca's tourism economy.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

In 1985, parts of the Australian telemovie ''[[My Brother Tom]]'' (based on the book by [[James Aldridge]]) were filmed in Echuca.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

In the TV series ''[[Glitch (Australian TV series)|Glitch]]'', Vic, the district supervisor for the police forces of Echuca, the fictional Yoorana, and surrounding communities, is based in Echuca.

The [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] aired an episode of ''[[Get Krack!n]]'' on 6 February 2019 satirising morning television segments about regional food and wine tourism. There was some concern locally about how the episode depicted the town and its effect on tourism, although the intent of the segment was to "[poke] fun at commercial morning breakfast shows and their often-condescending portrayal of rural and regional areas".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riverineherald.com.au/@news/2019/03/01/467006/outraged-murray-river-council-blasts-abc-tv-show |title='OUTRAGED': Murray River Council blasts ABC TV show |access-date=27 June 2019 |archive-date=27 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627150246/https://www.riverineherald.com.au/@news/2019/03/01/467006/outraged-murray-river-council-blasts-abc-tv-show |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:Echuca-Moama rail bridge Stevage.jpg|thumb|The Echuca-Moama Road Rail Bridge]]
Echuca is connected over the Murray River to Moama by the Echuca-Moama Road Rail Bridge, completed in 1878. This historically significant bridge has riveted iron spans supported on cast iron pillars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/index.html|title=Contact us|first=N. S. W.|last=Transport for NSW|website=Transport for NSW|date=17 August 2021 }}</ref> Trains no longer run on this bridge; a dedicated rail bridge has been constructed next to the old bridge, which now only carries road vehicles.

A second Murray River crossing, named Dhungala Bridge, was completed in July 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://roadprojects.vic.gov.au/projects/echuca-moama-bridge|title=Echuca-Moama Bridge Project|date=7 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-04-11 |title=Landmark bridge opens to traffic honouring Echuca-Moama's proud Indigenous heritage |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/roads/landmark-bridge-opens-to-traffic-honouring-echuca-moamas-proud-indigenous-heritage |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Victoria’s Big Build |language=en}}</ref>

Echuca-Moama Transit runs three bus services hourly to Echuca East, Echuca South and Moama. The terminus is the Old Echuca Post Office on Hare Street. [[V/Line]] operates the [[Deniliquin railway line|Echuca line]] rail service from [[Echuca railway station|the local station]] to [[Southern Cross railway station|Melbourne]] via [[Bendigo railway station|Bendigo]]. [[Echuca Airport]] is also located nearby.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/discover/visit-campaspe/echuca-aerodrome/ |title=Echuca aerodrome // Campaspe Shire Council |access-date=27 June 2019 |archive-date=6 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606123601/https://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/discover/visit-campaspe/echuca-aerodrome |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Geography==
Situated at the junction of the Murray and Campaspe Rivers, Echuca lies on the [[Northern Plains Grassland]]. It is flood prone.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://echucahistoricalsociety.org.au/history-of-floods/ | title=History of Floods - Echuca Historical Society }}</ref> In Yorta Yorta, the name Echuca translates as “meeting of the waters”.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2022/echuca-levee/ | title=Line in the sand: How a makeshift levee divided a country town }}</ref>

===Climate===
Echuca has a [[cold semi-arid climate]] (''BSk'') with [[Mediterranean climate]] (''Csa'') tendencies, with warm to hot, dry summers and cool to cold winters that are quite cloudy. 
{{Weather box
|location=Echuca Aerodrome (1881–2024, extremes 1957–2024); 96 m AMSL; 36.16° S, 144.76° E
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 46.9
|Feb record high C = 46.8
|Mar record high C = 41.8
|Apr record high C = 38.2
|May record high C = 28.4
|Jun record high C = 24.4
|Jul record high C = 24.2
|Aug record high C = 26.8
|Sep record high C = 36.0
|Oct record high C = 38.4
|Nov record high C = 43.2
|Dec record high C = 46.3
|year record high C = 46.9
|Jan high C = 31.0
|Feb high C = 30.7
|Mar high C = 27.3
|Apr high C = 22.3
|May high C = 17.6
|Jun high C = 14.3
|Jul high C = 13.5
|Aug high C = 15.3
|Sep high C = 18.4
|Oct high C = 22.2
|Nov high C = 26.1
|Dec high C = 29.1
|year high C = 
|Jan low C = 15.2
|Feb low C = 15.2
|Mar low C = 12.9
|Apr low C = 9.4
|May low C = 6.6
|Jun low C = 4.6
|Jul low C = 3.8
|Aug low C = 4.7
|Sep low C = 6.3
|Oct low C = 8.6
|Nov low C = 11.2
|Dec low C = 13.5
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = 5.0
|Feb record low C = 5.8
|Mar record low C = 1.0
|Apr record low C = 0.4
|May record low C = -1.9
|Jun record low C = -5.0
|Jul record low C = -5.5
|Aug record low C = -5.0
|Sep record low C = -1.5
|Oct record low C = 0.2
|Nov record low C = 1.3
|Dec record low C = 0.0
|year record low C = -5.5
|Jan precipitation mm = 28.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 25.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 30.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 32.7
|May precipitation mm = 40.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 42.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 40.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 42.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 38.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 42.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 33.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 30.0
|year precipitation mm = 426.9
|Jan precipitation days = 4.0
|Feb precipitation days = 3.6
|Mar precipitation days = 4.6
|Apr precipitation days = 5.8
|May precipitation days = 8.3
|Jun precipitation days = 10.3
|Jul precipitation days = 11.5
|Aug precipitation days = 11.3
|Sep precipitation days = 9.3
|Oct precipitation days = 8.3
|Nov precipitation days = 6.0	
|Dec precipitation days = 5.1
|year precipitation days = 88.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan afthumidity = 29
|Feb afthumidity = 31
|Mar afthumidity = 37
|Apr afthumidity = 44
|May afthumidity = 56
|Jun afthumidity = 65
|Jul afthumidity = 64
|Aug afthumidity = 57
|Sep afthumidity = 50
|Oct afthumidity = 41
|Nov afthumidity = 34
|Dec afthumidity = 30
|year afthumidity = 45
|humidity colour = green
|source 1 = <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_080015_All.shtml
|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |title=Climate statistics for |access-date=20 January 2014}}</ref>
|date=January 2014}}

==Media==
The local newspaper, The ''[[Riverine Herald]]'' is published by McPherson Media Group<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmg.com.au/|title=McPherson Media Group &#124;}}</ref> three days a week.

Commercial radio stations - 2QN and Edge FM.

Both owned by the ACE Radio Network. 

2QN broadcasts on the AM frequency of 1521 as well as on 102.9FM.

2QN - News, Talk and only the hits you love. 

Edge FM broadcasts on both 102.5FM as well as a dedicated frequency for Echuca Moama on 103.9FM.

Edge FM - Music that makes you feel good. 

Community radio station EMFM broadcasts in Echuca on the frequency of 104.7FM.

==Education==
[[File:Echuca School 001.JPG|thumb|right|The historic Echuca Primary School building]]
Echuca is served by several primary schools: 208 Primary School, Echuca East Primary School, Echuca Specialist School, St. Mary's Primary School and the newly constructed Twin Rivers Primary School (opened in 2018). Twin Rivers was formed by merging the former Echuca West and Echuca South Primary schools, and shares a place with Echuca Twin River Specialist School (formerly Echuca Specialist School)

Echuca has two high schools. Echuca College, a state secondary college, was formed in 2006 by the amalgamation of Echuca Technical College and Echuca High School. St. Joseph's College, a Catholic co-ed secondary school, occupies the site of a former [[Brigidine Sisters|Brigidine]] convent that opened in 1886.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sje.vic.edu.au/our-story | title=Welcome to St Joseph's College }}</ref> Moama Anglican Grammar School, just over the border in New South Wales, also attracts students from Echuca.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moamagrammar.nsw.edu.au/ |title=Moama Anglican Grammar |publisher=Moamagrammar.nsw.edu.au |date= |accessdate=2022-08-21}}</ref>

[[Bendigo TAFE]] has a campus in Echuca, offering education up to diploma level in various fields.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bendigotafe.edu.au/campus/campus-details-echuca|title=Echuca|website=www.bendigotafe.edu.au}}</ref>

==Sport==
The town has two [[Australian rules football]] clubs. The Murray Bombers competes in the [[Goulburn Valley Football League]],<ref name="d">{{Citation|last=Full Points Footy |title=Echuca |url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Echuca.htm |access-date=2008-07-25 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724163246/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/echuca.htm |archive-date=24 July 2008 }}</ref> while [[Echuca United Football Club|Echuca United]] competes in the [[Murray Football League]].

The town is also home to the Echuca Rockets, an inclusive all ability football team competing in the Victorian FIDA Football League - Northern Conference.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?c=1-8408-165081-0-0|title=Home Page - Echuca Moama Rockets|website=GameDay}}</ref>

Echuca has numerous other teams competing in regional and state sporting leagues, including netball, soccer, and field hockey. Echuca formerly fielded a baseball team, the Rich River Mariners, who played in the Goulburn Valley Baseball League.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/249104907 | title=League runner-up | newspaper=Riverine Herald | date=13 October 1999 }}</ref> The team disbanded in 2006.

Echuca has a [[Thoroughbred racing in Australia|horse racing club]], the Echuca Racing Club, which schedules around twelve race meetings a year including the Echuca Cup meeting in March.<ref name="RaceClub">{{Citation|last=Country Racing Victoria |title=Echuca Racing Club |url=http://www.countryracing.com.au/index.php?option=com_club_info&club=74&Itemid=80 |access-date=2009-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719223609/http://countryracing.com.au/index.php?option=com_club_info&club=74&Itemid=80 |archive-date=19 July 2008 }}</ref>

Echuca [[Harness racing|Harness Racing]] Club conducts regular meetings at its racetrack in the town.<ref name="harness">{{Citation |last=Australian Harness Racing |title=Echuca |url= http://www.harness.org.au/echuca/echuca.cfm?fromstate=vic |access-date=2009-05-11}}</ref>

Golfers play at the Echuca Back Nine Golf Course on Eyre and McKenzie Streets.<ref name="golf">{{Citation |author=Golf Select |title=Echuca Back Nine |url= http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=2102 |access-date=2009-05-11}}</ref>

===Water sports===
*Swimming: Echuca Swimming Club. 50 metre indoor pool. YMCA Echuca War Memorial Aquatic Centre.
*Canoeing: Echuca-Moama Canoe Club and  Inland Outriggers.
*Waterskiing: The Southern 80 Ski Race held in February finishing line is in Echuca, starting at the [[Torrumbarry]] Weir. Established over {{rounddown|{{age|format=raw|1964|12|28}}|-1}} years ago the race is held by the Moama Water Sports Club. The Southern 80 has become iconic with the 2-day event attracting more than 80,000 visitors to the area. 
In 2006, the Barry Beehag water ski race was established in honour of Barry Beehag, a founding and life member of the Moama Water Sports Club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southern80.com.au/History/BarrieBeehag/BBhistory.htm |title=MWSC- Home of the Southern 80 & Barrie Beehag Ski Races |access-date=21 January 2013 |archive-date=6 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206215338/http://www.southern80.com.au/History/BarrieBeehag/BBhistory.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Mary Doyle]], politician
* [[James Ashton (politician)|James Ashton]], politician
* [[Lou Bennett (musician)|Lou Bennett]], musician
* [[Frank Block (Australian politician)|Frank Block]], politician
* [[Roy Cameron (pathologist)|Roy Cameron]], pathologist
* [[Travis Fimmel]], actor and model
* [[Henry Hopwood]] (1813–1869), founder of Echuca, born in Bolton, Lancashire, England<ref>{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |id2=hopwood-henry-3795|title = Hopwood, Henry (1813–1869)|date = 1972|access-date = 30 March 2015|last = McCarthy|first = Susan}}</ref>
* [[Sarah Jones (Australian journalist)|Sarah Jones]], journalist
* [[Hyllus Maris]], Aboriginal activist
* [[Hugh McKenzie (Australian politician)|Hugh McKenzie]], politician and stock station agent.<ref>{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |id2=mckenzie-hugh-7388|title = McKenzie, Hugh (1853–1942)|date = 1986|access-date = 30 March 2015|last = Rolfe|first = Amanda}}</ref>
* [[James McManus (Royal Australian Navy)|James McManus]], naval officer
* [[Brian Lord]], country music artist
* [[Bill Onus]], Aboriginal activist
* [[Leith Ratten]], convicted of murdering his wife
* [[Justin Smith (presenter)|Justin Smith]], author and journalist
* [[Reginald Smithers]], lawyer and judge

===Sport===
* [[George Bazeley]], hockey player
* [[Geoff Bloomfield]], equestrian
* [[Michael Braun (footballer)|Michael Braun]],  Australian rules footballer
* [[Donna Burns]], basketballer
* [[Clem Carr]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Tommy Carr (Australian footballer)|Tommy Carr]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Jane Chalmers]], basketballer 
* [[Daniel Connors]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Bert Cowley]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Simon Eishold]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Ted Fleming]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Bert Foster]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Gordon Geddes]], Australian rules footballer 
* [[Jack Graham (Australian footballer, born 1878)|Jack Graham]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Shadrach James]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Bill Kyme]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Phil McCumisky]], Australian rules footballer 
* [[Mal McGillivray]], Australian rules footballer 
* [[Ken Montgomery]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Jack Mueller]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Todd Murphy]], cricketer
* [[Caitlyn Nevins]], netball player 
* [[Kevin O'Neill (Australian footballer)|Kevin O'Neill]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Clayton Oliver]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Col Pearse]], Paralympic swimmer
* [[Trevor Rowlands (Australian footballer)|Trevor Rowlands]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Dick Robertson (footballer)|Dick Robertson]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Jack Quinn (footballer, born 1918)|Jack Quinn]], Australian rules footballer
* [[John Quirk (footballer)|John Quirk]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Sam Sheldon]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Thomas Swann (rower)|Thomas Swann]], rower 
* [[Bill Talbot]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Andrew Thomson (Australian footballer)|Andrew Thomson]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Jack Viney]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Andrew Walker (footballer)|Andrew Walker]], Australian rules footballer
* [[George Williams (Australian footballer)|George Williams]], Australian rules footballer
* [[Oliver Wines]], Australian rules footballer and Brownlow Medalist

==Sister city==
Echuca's sister city was [[Whitehorse, Yukon]], Canada.<ref>{{cite news |title= Australians surprised by sister city snub |author= Oke, Chris |url= http://yukon-news.com/news/australians-surprised-by-sister-city-snub |newspaper= Yukon News |date= 21 June 2008 |access-date=8 September 2013}}</ref> However, Whitehorse terminated the special relationship in 2008 due to the relationship being "strictly ceremonial in nature".<ref>{{cite news |title= Whitehorse dumps two sister cities |author= Oke, Chris |url= http://yukon-news.com/news/whitehorse-dumps-two-sister-cities |newspaper= Yukon News |date=7 June 2008 |access-date=8 September 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Echuca-Moama}}
{{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.echuca.ws/ Echuca Moama Visitor Information Website]
* [http://www.echucamoama.com Official Visitors Information for Echuca and its twin city Moama]
* [http://environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/echuca-wharf/information.html Echuca Wharf – Australian National Heritage listing]

{{Towns in the Shire of Campaspe}}
{{Cities of Victoria}}
{{River Murray paddle steamers}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:River ports of Australia]]
[[Category:Echuca-Moama]]