Yarrawonga is a town in the Shire of Moira Local Government Area in the Australian state of Victoria. The town is situated on the south bank of the Murray River, the border between Victoria and New South Wales and is located approximately 220 kilometres north east of the state capital, Melbourne. Yarrawonga's twin town of Mulwala is on the other side of the Murray River. At the 2006 census, Yarrawonga had a population of 5,727.

Yarrawonga Post Office opened on 28 November 1874.

Yarrawonga is served by a broad gauge branch railway, though with gauge conversion of the line between Seymour and Albury, the line will be temporarily orphaned.

Yarrawonga's main attraction is Lake Mulwala, formed by the damming of the Murray River, immediately downstream of Yarrawonga. The lake is a popular location for activities such as boating kayaking and fishing. There are two crossings of the Murray between Yarrawonga and Mulwala; across the weir (a stock route carrying a single lane of traffic); and a bridge over Lake Mulwala. This bridge contains an unusual bend and dip in the middle, a result of miscommunication between the two state governments.

The Yarrawonga Football Club participates in the Ovens and Murray Football League in the sport of Australian rules football, which has produced the likes of Joel Smith, Ben Dixon, and Tom Lonergan.

Mulwala is a town in the Corowa Shire Local Government Area in the Riverina district of New South Wales, Australia. The town is situated on Lake Mulwala, an artificial lake formed by the damming of the Murray River.

Overview

Across the border in Victoria is Mulwala's twin town of Yarrawonga.

Mulwala is a popular destination for water sports and fishing, especially for tourists from nearby Melbourne, 300 km to the south. Other popular attractions include three major licensed clubs.

The local Australian rules football club, Mulwala Football Club competes in the Murray Football League.

History

The Services club at Mulwala. The licensed clubs are an important part of the Mulwala economy, although less so since poker machines were legalised in Victoria in 1992.

In 1847 James McRae arrived in the district to take charge of "Mulwala" and "Boroge" stations on behalf of the squatter Linbourne. McRae built a punt and a public house at the locality. He obtained a license for his Travellers' Rest Hotel in 1853.

In 1858 Surveyor Adams marked out a township at the site. In 1866 a new hotel was opened at Mulwala and a school established at the township. Mulwala Post Office opened in 1864 for about six weeks, closed and was reopened on 1 June 1866.The pioneer, James McRae, died in 1866.

In 1872 Mulwala was described as a small township of about 100 inhabitants, possessing a church, a school, a post-office and a public house.

In 1887 it was reported that Mulwala had two hotels and two stores; a court-house had been erected and a sawmill started.

In 1972, Mulwala was the site for a large outdoor pop music festival, which despite boasting big Australian names ( Chain, Doug Parkinson, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs) and some overseas artists (Canned Heat, Steven Stills & Manassas) , was considered a flop, after rain had washed out the site by the third day.

Transport

Mulwala is a station with a silo on the Oaklands railway line.