Welcome to the Swan Hill region - Heart of the Murray

Set on the banks of the Murray, Swan Hill boasts an enjoyable Mediterranean climate. Numerous attractions with ample quality accommodation make Swan Hill an excellent holiday destination, with a unique blend of history with a host of modern facilities. From the historic Pioneer Settlement, regional Art Gallery, historic homesteads, numerous wineries to of course daily cruises on the PS Pyap.

Enjoy the magnificent wide open spaces and the tranquillity of inland Australia while you visit an award-winning winery or a fine restaurant featuring fresh Murray Cod, yabbies, avocado, citrus, stone fruits or vine fruits.

Take in the beautiful surroundings at a golf course or explore nature's remarkable features in one of many reserves and parks. Enjoy a river cruise or a houseboat holiday, an historic paddleboat trip or discover the fantastic festivals and events, arts and many unique family attractions.

Swan Hill also offers excellent sporting facilities including six noteworthy golf courses. Vinifera and Nyah state forests are located to the North of Swan Hill. Tooleybuc further North, Robinvale, Balranald, Euston and Nyah all provide excellent site seeing destinations for visitors. Tyntyndyer Homestead, 17 km north of the town, has a small museum of pioneering and Aboriginal relics and Lake Boga, 16 km to the south.

Swan Hill History

Swan Hill is an historic town. In 1853 Francis Cadell in his paddle steamer Lady Augusta navigated the Murray from its mouth in South Australia reaching Swan Hill, his farthest point upstream. The boat was welcomed by the whole of the town's population - 12 people. The town grew up around the punt crossing, as it was the only crossing of the Murray within 100 km. Robert O'Hara Burke and William Wills crossed the Murray here in 1860. The punt operated until 1896 until it was superseded by a bridge.

Pioneer Settlement

The Pioneer Settlement was established at Swan Hill in 1963 with the arrival of the paddle-steamer 'Gem' from Mildura. A recreated river town of the late 19th century, there are over 50 original and recreated buildings, including a non-denominational church, a working blacksmith's shop and a working print shop. The buildings are filled with over 60,000 antique and historic objects to add life and realism and some are regularly activated by volunteers demonstrating old fashioned crafts. While the PS Gem, and the barge Vega, are static display vessels only, the PS Pyap runs Murray River cruises daily from the Horseshoe Bend wharf at the Pioneer Settlement. The Settlement also has Australia's largest publicly accessible collection of pre-war steel wheel tractors, many of which are activated on a daily basis; and also the only Kaiser Stereoscopic Theatre operating on a daily basis anywhere in the world.

Swan Hill Today

Today, Swan Hill is a thriving, modern city. Swan Hill and its irrigated hinterland are home to 16,000 people. An economic catchment stretching along the Murray Valley into the Mallee in Victoria and the Western Riverina in New South Wales, is also serviced by the city. Though still focused on primary production and supplying the needs of people and businesses in the area, Swan Hill has broadened its activities in commerce, manufacturing and tourism. The city today combines the relaxed lifestyle and community spirit of traditional rural life, with the facilities and conveniences of a much larger urban centre.

Swan Hill Accommodation

Enjoy hospitality and warmth while staying in comfort at your choice of accommodation. Make the most of the laid-back atmosphere country hospitability and spectacular scenery of the Swan Hill Region.

In the city of Swan Hill, many venues are within easy walking distance to the town centre, however for those keen to get away from it all, there are a number of accommodation venues located in more discrete locations including working farm properties.

General Information

Population: 9,771
Council: Swan Hill Rural City Council
Location: 217 km from Mildura on the Murray Valley Highway and only 340km from Melbourne
Naming Origin: Named by explorer Thomas Mitchell in 1836 after being kept awake by flocks of black swans

Robinvale Euston (Down River) - Lake Boga | Kerang (Up River)

	Swan Hill Region Information Centre Cnr McCrae & Curlewis Streets Swan Hill, VIC 3585 Ph: (03) 5032 3033 Visit website