Barmah Community Walk
Barmah is situated on the banks of the mighty Murray River and is a marvellous place to enjoy camping, fishing, canoeing, bushwalking and much more. Barmah is also the gateway to the internationally significant Ramsar Site, the Barmah National Park, which is home to over 26000 hectares of river red gums and wetlands, 236 species of birds and 21 species of fish.
An Aboriginal Story about the Murray River (Dhungulla or Tongala)
During the creation period ancestral beings moved across the earth. Establishing the foundations of life. They created the features of our tribal land, it's rocks it's water course, sandhills and plains. The most powerful ancestral being was called Biame (Rainbow Serpent) and it was through Biame that the great river Tongala (Dhungulla) which we now call the Murray River was created. "Biame sent his old lubra down out of the high country with a yam stick to dig for food as she journeyed across the flat and waterless plain. He also sent his giant snake along to keep an eye on her. She walked for many weary miles, drawing a line in the sand with her yam stick and behind her came the snake sliding in and out of her line and making the curves of the river bed with his body. Then Biame spoke in a voice of thunder, lightening flashed and rain fell and the water came flowing down the track the old woman and the snake has made. After many days and nights she came to the sea and went to sleep in a cave, while her dogs ran off and kicked up the sandhills about the river mouth."
Local History
Barmah was first passed through in 1838 by Charles Start. Three years later in 1841, Edward Curr leased the Lower Moira run, and in 1855 Joseph Rice set up a fishing company. Settlement at Barmah began in the 1840's to provide railway sleepers cut from the Barmah Forest river red gums and transported along the Murray River. The settlement expanded due to labour requirements for the sawmills and riverboats, and in 1866, the township of Barmah officially came into being.
Barmah became a thriving community with the arrival of wool and wheat farmers and later on when irrigation became possible, a thriving dairy industry until the 1980's. In the 1960's Barmah Punt, which is now heritage listed, was superseded by a concrete bridge, and the township was connected to the power grid. Barmah, although a small community, played a large part in the development of our nation.
Walk Part One - Orange line on map
Walk Part Two - Red line on map
Walk Part Three - Dark Purple line on map
Barmah River Walk - Light Purple line on map (separate walking track - 20 minutes return)
You con complete parts two and three of the walk as a loop, which takes approximately 30 minutes, or exit at the end of any one of the parts that suits you!
Key for Walk Locations
1. Canoe tree
2. Boat ramp and the old punt (H)
3. The willows
4. Watertower
5. Proposed memorial and the Terry Tinkler Reserve
6. Former Catholic church
7. All Saints Barmah Anglican Church
8. Barmah Community Garden / Scar Tree\
9. CFA
10. Community Hall & Kindergarten
11. Leigh McCann's house (150 years old)
12. Heart to Heart Respite House
13. Jack Edwards Park
14. The Cummeragunja Community
15. To the Cadell Fault Line
16. To the Barmah Cemetery
17. To the Stockyards (H)
18. Swan's Saw Mill
19. Bollards for house boats
20. Stitcher Pearce's Tree
21. Local artwork at the Barmah Hotel and Motel
Legend for businesses on the map
A. Bama Sands (03) 5480 6665
B. Barmah Automotive and Marine 0408 693 449
C. Barmah Barges 0427 843 137
D. Barmah Hotel and Motel (03) 5869 3270
E. Barmah Cafe and Post Office (03) 5869 3219
F. Barmah RA Hobbies 0457 404 065
G. Barmah Caravan Park (03) 5869 3225
H. Better Bite on the Murray (03) 5869 3226
I. Kingfisher Cruises (03) 5855 2855
J. "Moira Gums" Pearce's Guest House 0428 845 217
K. Morning Glory River Resort (03) 5869 3357
I. Murph's Roving Roast (03) 5869 1296
M. Murray Perch Caravan Park (03) 5869 3226
N. Nautilus Star Australia 0417 556 516
0. NAG Engines 0457 404 065
P. Gondwana Canoe Hire (03) 5869 3347
Q. Grizzly's Spinnerbaits 0409 405 122
R. The Cutters Hut 0428 845 217
S. Teepookana River Retreat 0417 373 553
T. Yenbena Training Centre (03) 5869 3336
U. Yorta Yorfa Nation Aboriginal Corp (03) 5869 3353
V. Witchypoo Op Shop (03) 5869 3484
Location
7 Maloney Street, Barmah 3639 Map
