The other weekend – my friend and myself and the dogs went for a drive to Corryong a town in Victoria. Of course this was before the current lockdowns experiencing in Victoria, Australia. On the way we stopped at a site where a town used to be. The town was called Tallangatta and it was moved 8 km’s west of the old site. The original location was then flooded under 6 feet of water after the Hume Dam was expanded.

In 1956 there were over 900 residents, 2 hotels, 4 petrol stations, 4 churches and numerous shops and business’s. The Prime Minister of Australia was Sir Robert Menzies and Melbourne hosted the summer Olympics.

They moved for free over 100 homes and 3-4 business’s. You can still drive into the old town and there are some houses and what used to be the Butter Factory. They are high up so wouldn’t get flooded. Next time the dam is nearly full I plan on driving out there again and getting some comparison shots done.

Each time I have visited Tallangatta the Hume Dam has been low so you can still make out the markings of the streets and where the houses used to be.

We actually drove into the new town but it felt like it had no soul. Drove in, drove out and made our way to the old town.

On the way we stopped at Mt Lawson State Park. Due to heavy rain it was impossible to walk the full 300m to the Trestle Bridge.

I managed to get 200m down the track and got this photo.

Corryong was our last stop before heading back to Albury. It was lunch time so we headed to one of the pubs in town for lunch. The food was delicious however the owner of the hotel her attitude was terrible. We were sitting at our table and the staff were behind the bar working. However we were chatting a bit. Hospitality is the word. We used to work in the business ourselves. The owner came in walked by us didn’t even acknowledge us – paying guests and began yelling at the poor girls. Safe to say we won’t be darkening their door again! That’s one thing you never do is yell at your staff in front of paying guests.

Once we had eaten and drunk some local wine’s and beer we headed to the Towong Gap Lookout which provides an impressive view along the valley.

Drove back into town and parked the car. Realized car battery was nearly flat so put the charger we had onto the battery and went across the road to the museum while it charged.

Unfortunately when we got back to the car the charger had not worked. We called the RACV. Told it was a 90 minute wait! We walked up to the pub near the car and had a wine and beer while we waited. – Within 15 minutes the phone rang and the RACV were at the car. I stayed in the pub and finished my wine of course.

Corryong is a small town in far north eastern Victoria, around 120kms east of Wodonga .Corryong is the gateway to the Snowy Mountains and Kosciuszko National Park. The day we went it was extremely cold and fair to say snow was close by.

“There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from Old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses –  he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stock-horse snuffs the battle with delight.“

Written by Banjo Patterson.

https://allpoetry.com/The-Man-from-Snowy-River

There is so much more to see and do but it was getting late in the day and it was also getting cold. So once the car was mobile again we headed home, straight home just in case the battery had more issues. We did stop for some photo opportunities however left the car idling.

We do plan on heading back to Corryong but when we have purchased a new battery. With the very cold temperatures and a bumper snow season we dont want to get stranded.

Albury to Corryong is 127.7 km along the Murray Valley Highway. Approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes if there are no stops.

Albury to Tallangatta is 48.1 km along the Murray Valley Highway. Time to travel one way is 38 minutes.