Albury is the one of the best region of Australia to analyse early history of the colony and the nationhood of this great country . This region is also great place to visit for fun and joy as some associate it with winter sports where others love the 4 great seasonal yearly changes of nature show of its beauty . Here one can learn about importance of water in this driest continent in the world . Water this liquid treasure which flows in mighty Murray River and also in smaller rivers of area where in XIX century thousands of hopefuls were seeking the magic spark of alluvial gold in the beds of these creeks , rivulets and small rivers creating great water catchment for the Murray River . From early days of human presence on Terra Australis , water played important role . Indigenous people were seeking water for their survival and later on early settlers needed water for survival at the task of settling here and starting to develop the region . Wiradjuri people , the original settlers of the area were crossing the river where today Albury is placed in order to move about the place. Water is kind of currency and commodity extremely vital for the individuals to function , basically to be alive . .Water and it is also resource for the nation to proceed with development and progress into the future . The founding fathers of Australia were aware of it . They saw that without water Australia can not be settled and developed.
The mighty river Murray and the snow fields in the Snowy Mountains allowed the nation to grow and advance forward. Gold rush era was the first significant period of many changes here . Towns like Bright Beechworth are presenting significant aspects of that history. Albury on other hand presented base for development of the modern town of Wodonga which became bi- cities urban complex creating opportunities for next chapter of development of the area . After the drama of WWII many settlers from ruins of Europe came to participate in building the extraordinary project of Snowy River Complex , power the Victorian and Australian factories and production lines of great Australian car factory in Broadmeadow . They came also to the region and were housed at migrant centre of Bonegilla . This migrant accommodation centre , from 1947 when it was established as the Migrant Reception and Training centre , provided first opportunities to new arrivals for better life . This centre when eventually was closed in 1971 was start to life in Australia to more than 300 thousands migrant from over 50 countries . Here they started to realize their hope for better life. Around the historic place of Albury- Wodonga Hume Dam is situated .This engineering marvel of XX century as it was build in 1919 , was biggest dam in the southern hemisphere . Water volume in the dam is 5 times size of the famous Sydney Harbour . While moving around the area one can visit the “ Block 19” of the Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre Museum . Bonegilla played important role in overall concept of Migration Scheme which was so well administered and arranged for the benefit of many “POW” and impoverished people from around the world and also for improvement of Australian life style and its position in the world.
Albury- Wodonga is gateway to the skiing fields , vineries , places of top quality foods like venison of red dear is served and to historical towns where “ Gold rush “ era can be sensed , as even now some people seek and enjoy panning for gold in picturesque rivulets. Along theKiewa Valley Highway through the green fields and meadows where cattle freely grazes , between the farms with hazelnuts , walnuts and chestnuts trees , across some pretty and scenic countryside one can visit Mount Beauty and from there just a pleasant drive to BRIGHT . When in the area , in 1860 gold was discovered the settlement of Morse Creek in 1861 was renamed to Bright ,which was the gesture to pay respect to John Bright political and social reformer of these days . Bright is very pleasing town to relax , have a dinner and overnight before the adventures trip to discover beauty of Mount Buffalo . This peak of 1723 m. Height provides visitor with enjoyment of vistas over sheer rocks into green valleys of the “Snowy Rivers “ country . From here one can see snow covered high picks of the Snowy Mountains where Mount Kosciuszko shows its appearance of being highest mountain on continent of Australia .Beechworth being other great and picturesque town can be reached from Mt. Buffalo via Yackandandah which being gold rush times centre had already in 1856 its Post Office to allow the lucky miners send letters about finding gold. Now this town is centre of surrounding farming communities .Beechworth ,despite its importance of gold rush days centre , has rather long history related to the Ya-itma-thang people . Already many years before present days farmers enjoyment of results of their tending and hard work on the rich soil , land of the area , Ya-itma-thang people were able to use the phenomena of seasonal changes for their benefit , while caring and nurturing the soil which often was enriched by ashes of ravaging bush fires. In Beechworth one can visit Chinese Burning Towers being the part of Beechworth historical cemetery . These towers , altar were used for the religious , symbolic burning of “ paper money “ and wishing notes to enrich these afterlife of these who passed away . In this town were about 5000 Chinese miners who came to work on Ovens Goldfields of the area. Beechworth prides itself with extraordinary sector of town where the solid stone block buildings of Banks , Court House of the Gold Fever era charm and stimulate visitors fantasy about days when in January 1854 100000 ounces of gold were taken from the Ovens Fields .These buildings are the visual proof of significance and size of town which was inhabited by 30000 people . From the region of the region so intertwined in Golden mining history of XIX century one can get to Wangaratta which is centre for world producing one of the best world renown wines .In Wangaratta , annually top Jazz performers like Tomasz Stanko of Poland come to participate in great Wangaratta Jazz Festival .
The region of Albury and the Victorian Alps with its countryside beauty , great foods represented in many truly international quality restaurants can be reached from Sydney and Melbourne by XPT train , by road along some picturesque regions of NSW and Victoria or directly on the Hume Highway . In Albury these who opt relax way of train travel “ Thrifty “ car hire company has great fleet of comfortable cars . Accommodation at the Australian style motel presents clean , tidy , comfortable options of overnight in places like Bright , Beechworth , Albury and other townships on the route across this mighty region where snow peaks of the Australian Alps complement colour of bushes , flowers and vast expense of the meadows .
For overseas visitors Singapore Airlines provides daily services from world cities via Singapore to Sydney and Melbourne . On other hand LOT Polish Airlines member of STAR Alliance together with Singapore Airlines also member of STAR Alliance , has attractive airfares using its services from Warsaw to Beijing and from there to Sydney and Melbourne Singapore Airlines services are used for this attractive option of travel to the South Eastern Australia .
WMIG Albury October 2014
Links to plan the visit :
-http://www.winsorpark.com.au/ – Winsor Park Motel – Albury
-http://www.bogongviewmotorinn.com.au/ – Bogong View Motor Inn- Bright
-http://www.beechworthonline.com.au/accomgrid_searchoperatordetails.asp?OperatorID=18802—Beechworthcarriage Motor Inn- Beechworth
-http://www.singaporeair.com/SAA-flow.form – Singapore Airlines
-http://www.lot.com/pl/en/- LOT Polish Airlines
-http://www.nswtrainlink.info/ – NSW Trainlink ,
Mitch Godziemba Swiat
mitchgodziemba