Fast facts
- Vibrant regional twin cities straddling the Murray River
- Set in fertile river plains on the NSW/Victorian border
- 588 km south-west of Sydney, population 100,000
Why go there
Albury-Wodonga is the thriving, twin-city hub of the Murray region, sitting astride Australia’s greatest river and nestled at the heart of a collection of historic villages. It is situated close to the aquatic playground of Lake Hume, and is also the jumping off point for the Australian Alps and the world-famous Rutherglen Wine Region.
History
During the mid-1800s, Albury developed as a major paddle-steamer port, gaining a strong reputation for its riverboat-building industry. When gold was discovered in the 1850s, Albury found itself in the thick of the boom, which is reflected in the beautiful historic streetscapes of central Albury.
After World War I, the city helped shape the face of Australia when the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre was established in the Wodonga region. In all, 320,000 people from 30 countries passed through the centre, resulting in the most profound demographic change in Australia since the gold rush.
Things to do
- Visit Lake Hume, a wonderful recreational playground for fishing, sailing and other water sports.
- Listen to the stories of the migrants at the heritage-listed Bonegilla Camp and interpretive centre.
- View the largest military collection outside Canberra, at the Bandiana Army Museum, situated in a working Army base.
Events
- Albury Gold Cup Carnival in April is the fastest-growing race meeting in Australia.
- Albury Wodonga Region Wine and Food Festival in September is a celebration of all things culinary and quaffable.
- Enchanted River in April is a beautiful, ethereal celebration of life on the Murray.
Don’t miss
- A performance by the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.
- Fishing for trout at the Hume Weir Trout Fishing Farm.
- Albury Regional Art Gallery, for its photographic collection.
- Ancient red gums and waterbirds at Wonga Wetlands.
- A bike ride around the foreshore of Lake Hume.
