Howlong Post Office

Howlong
Attractive border town on the Murray River
Howlong is an attractive riverside town on the NSW-Victoria border. Situated 597 km south-west of Sydney via the Hume and Riverina Highways it has a population slightly over 1500.

The first European in the area was surveyor-general of NSW, Major Thomas Mitchell, who crossed the Murray at the location of the present townsite in 1836. There is a monument to Mitchell on the Victorian side of the river.

In 1838 Charles Bonney and Joseph Hawdon set off with 300 cattle in the first overland drive to South Australia, the longest journey of its kind to be attempted by whites in Australia. The men followed the tracks of Mitchell's party which were still visible by the riverbank. The same river crossing was the site of the first mail delivery from Sydney to Port Phillip (as Melbourne was initially called), also in 1838.

Isaac Rudd took up a run called 'Hoolong' or 'Oolong' in the early 1840s, after an Aboriginal place name meaning 'beginning of the plains'. The town was laid out in 1854. There was, at one time, an upper and lower Howlong, which were located some distance apart.

Later in the century the town came to public attention after a £50 wager resulted in two local gentlemen setting off on a 100-mile horse race. Cries of cruelty to the animals led to an investigation but it was abandoned when it was found that one of the participants had ridden back to his property after the race, without any apparent harm to his horse.

Things to see:  

St Thomas's Anglican Church, Howlong

Historic Buildings
The town has some historic buildings such as the restored Mill Hotel (1870s) now a private home. If you head towards Albury it is the first building to your right past the golf club, on the other side of the laneway. The Punt Hotel is also substantially the same as the nineteenth-century building and is also a private residence. It can be found on the Victorian side of the river. The Kismet property and motel on Corowa Road has an old Cobb & Co. horse-change station (02 6026 5748). Visitors can involve themselves in the property's farm activities if they wish. Several old wooden bridges in various states of disrepair span the river at Howlong. The Court House Hotel also dates from the late 19th century.

Riverside Attractions
The riverside location makes Howlong an ideal spot for walking, horse riding, photography, fishing, boating and swimming. There is also an attractive golf course.

Flooded river flats between Howlong and Corowa

	Motels
	Howlong Country Club Motel Golf Club Dve Howlong NSW 2643 Telephone: (02) 6026 5588 Rating: ****
	Kismet Riverside Motel Corowa Rd Howlong NSW 2643 Telephone: (02) 6026 5748
	Hotels
	Howlong Hotel Hawkins St Howlong NSW 2643 Telephone: (02) 6026 5255
	Caravan Parks
	Howlong Caravan Park 55 Hume St Howlong NSW 2643 Telephone: (02) 6026 5304
	Restaurants
	Howlong Country Club Motel Russell St Howlong NSW 2643 Telephone: (02) 6026 5588
	Kismet Riverside Motel Corowa Rd Howlong NSW 2643 Telephone: (02) 6026 5748