Murray River

The Murray-Darling River belongs to the third largest river system in the world. Forming most of the border between Victoria and New South Wales, this river flows from the mountains high above Corryong to Mildura on its course into South Australia. 
An ancient waterway, it combines the melting snows from the Australian Alps and subtropical monsoon rains from Western Queensland. It is far older in origin than even Australia's native people and it was spiritually significant to the Koories (Aboriginal tribe).

Echuca paddle steamer

Captain Charles Sturt named it The Murray in 1830 after Sir George Murray, colonial secretary of the time. It was then that a new era began, bringing trading steamers, barges and tow boats bustling up the river.
The Murray is navigable from Yarrawonga in eastern Victoria to its mouth at Goolwa in South Australia, some 1240 river miles. The banks of the Murray are lined with massive red gums, billabongs, and sandy beaches.

Victorian part:

Echuca
The City of Echuca preserves its riverboat era when it was Australia's largest inland port, with over 80 hotels and a large three-decker wharf. Today, much of the giant red gum wharf still stands and paddle steamers, old hotels and government buildings are other remnants of a once thriving riverboat town.

South Australian part:

Murray Bridge
Murray Bridge, settled in 1850, is South Australia's largest river town. It is 78 km east of Adelaide, to which it is linked by a freeway. It was initially known as Edward's Crossing after the first European settler who arrived there in 1850. The village was founded in 1866 with the name of Mobilong and the road bridge over the Murray River was opened in 1879. The town grew from the date the bridge was completed: although it was popularly known as Murray Bridge, it was still officially Mobilong until the municipality was proclaimed in 1924.
Murray Bridge was an integral part of the important Murray River transportation system. 

Today it looks over a broad section of the Murray, and offers excellent water sports facilities and a wide range of river cruises supported by very good accommodation. The town is named after what is thought to have been the first bridge to span the Murray River.