Standing on the banks of the Murray River, Echuca Wharf is one of Australia's most significant surviving river ports and a remarkable reminder of the nation's paddle steamer era. Constructed between 1865 and 1867 from locally milled Murray River red gum, the wharf once stretched 332 metres, allowing cargo to be loaded and unloaded regardless of the river's changing water levels. Today, 75.5 metres of the original structure remain.

During the late 19th century, Echuca became Australia's largest inland port and Victoria's second busiest port. Its strategic location, where the railway from Melbourne met the Murray River, made it the vital link between the pastoral districts of the Murray-Darling Basin and the ports of southern Australia. Wool, wheat, timber and other produce passed through the wharf, helping drive the economic development of the Australian colonies.

Although river trade declined with the expansion of the railway network in the 1880s and 1890s, Echuca Wharf has been carefully preserved and restored. It is now listed on Australia's National Heritage List and serves as the heart of the historic Port of Echuca, where beautifully restored paddle steamers continue to cruise the Murray River, bringing this unique chapter of Australian history to life.

PS Alexander Arbuthnot

Laid down as a barge hull at Koondrook in 1916, she was fitted with a steam engine and commissioned in 1923, making her the last working paddle steamer built for the original Murray River trade. After sinking at Yielima in 1947, she was salvaged by volunteers in 1972 and meticulously restored at Echuca, returning to passenger service in 1994.

 PS Pevensey

Constructed at Moama in 1911, the heavy-duty PS Pevensey was a dominant cargo vessel capable of hauling 120 tons of wool, timber, and supplies along the Murray River. Following a complete restoration in 1976, she achieved international fame by starring as the PS Philadelphia in the iconic 1983 Australian television mini-series All the Rivers Run.

PS Adelaide

Launched at Echuca in 1866, the PS Adelaide is celebrated globally as the oldest operating wooden-hulled paddle steamer in existence. After a multi-decade stint on land as a park display in Hopwood Gardens, she was re-floated, fully restored to steam, and recommissioned in 1985 to preserve her status as a premier icon of Australia's river heritage.

PS Britannia 

A modern heritage vessel custom-built in Echuca. Construction began in 2003, and she launched in 2005. Powered by a 1913 Marshall steam engine, she was officially commissioned on Anzac Day in 2008. Designed as a private passion project rather than a commercial cruiser, she functions as a privately maintained houseboat and serves as a permanent residence for her owners.