Historic: Julie Charlton, David Simkin and Eric McConachy enjoy the scenery of a long-forgotten trail that needs maintenance work.
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Supplied
A group of eight intrepid bushwalkers had an insightful walk through the Banyule State Forest last Sunday morning, taking in the historical sights of Echuca Moama.
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With representatives of Echuca Moama Bushwalkers, Echuca Moama Landcare and the Echuca Historical Society, they went on a rediscovery walk in the Banyule State Forest, including Shinbone Alley.
Echuca Moama Bushwalkers’ Julie Charlton spoke to The Riv about the trip down memory, highlighting Echuca and Moama’s boat-building past.
“Shinbone Alley, where many of the boatbuilders, sawmillers and rivermen lived, is not easy to locate now with so much weed growth,” Ms Charlton said.
“Over the coming months and years, we would like residents and tourists to come along and appreciate the rich past of Banyule Forest.
“We would like additional work and maintenance for the Banyule forest.”
Needs work: The Banyule forest trail is overgrown with weeds and in need of maintenance.
Photo by
Michael Lloyd
While all evidence of the distant past is long gone, the Echuca Moama Bushwalkers group, Echuca Moama Landcare group and the Echuca Historical Society would like to see the forest restored, allowing for the safe navigation of bushwalkers.
“As the area currently stands, we do not believe the Banyule forest river trail is safe for residents to experience as the trail is overgrown and parts of the river bank are collapsing,” Ms Charlton said.
“This is a pleasant bushland setting for a stroll along the Murray River under shady river gums with numerous birds calling and the added aspect of the 1800s history.
“Shipyards, where numerous paddle steamers and barges were built and repaired, occupied a large portion of the riverbank. Several sawmills cleared a lot of this area of its timber.”
In addition to the maintenance work, the groups would like to see information panels installed highlighting the many points of interest along the trail that describe the life of the people who once worked in those industries.
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