The Edward River at Moulamein

Moulamein (including Kyalite)
Quiet and sleepy service centre
Located 842 km south-west of Sydney via the Hume, Sturt, Newell and Riverina Highways and 67 m above sea-level, Moulamein is a peaceful rural town in unspoiled bush surroundings at the junction of the Edward River and Billabong Creek.

Settled as early as 1830 Moulamein is the oldest town in the Riverina. It was supposedly named in 1842 by Augustus Morris. Some claim the town's name is Aboriginal and some argue it is an Indian word (Moulmein is a seaport in Burma), though the translation is consistently given as 'meeting of the waters'.

Moulamein was once considered more important than Albury. The police court records date back to 1845 and there was a time when prisoners were brought from Albury to be tried.

The township was laid out in 1851 although an inn, courthouse, post office and some domestic buildings were already in existence. It became an important crossroad and port where the paddle-steamers plying the Edward River could exchange cargo in the days when the river system was the most effective means of transport. The district was opened to free selection in the 1870s. Drought and the rabbit plague saw the town at a low ebb in the 1910s but a revival of sorts occurred when the railway arrived in 1926, aided by the subdivision of the large estates.

Today Moulamein has a population of 500 and is more closely associated with Victoria than NSW. Grazing, wheat cultivation and, in particular, rice-growing are the economic mainstays. The town's rice receival depot is an enormous complex with 25 bins storing up to 44 000 tonnes of rice at a time.

Things to see:  

Historic Buildings
Little remains of the town's early days except the old wharf in Morago St and an old courthouse (not the original 1845 structure) which can be found over the footbridge spanning Billabong Ck at the end of Old Court House Road.

Moulamein Lake
Willow trees line 12-ha Moulamein Lake in Brougham St. With pools for adults and children, a boat-launching ramp and a boat and water ski club it is ideal for boating and other water activities, including fishing, for which the town is well-known.

The Old Bullock Dray
The Old Bullock Dray is an antiquated original which was used last century by local landholder Locky McBean who drove it from Moulamein to Sydney and back in order to increase his holdings. It is located on Barham Road on the southern side of town in a rest area with picnic and barbecue facilities.

Within a 20-km radius there are several waterways and state forests which are open to campers and anglers and which contain emus, kangaroos and wild pigs.

Kyalite
Kyalite is a tiny village of a few dozen people on the banks of the Wakool River 58 km west of Moulamein and 14 km north of Tooleybuc. It is very popular with campers, fishers and shooters. Kyalite State Forest begins 10 km east along the Moulamein Road. It covers 577 ha, includes the Wakool River and is rich in wildlife.

	Tourist Information
	Visitors Information Centre Morago St Moulamein NSW 2733 Telephone: (03) 5887 5354
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Melness Host Farm Bed & Breakfast Swan Hill Rd Moulamein NSW 2733 Telephone: (03) 5034 0554
	Riverview on the Edward Bed & Breakfast Balpool Rd Moulamein NSW 2733 Telephone: (03) 5887 5241 Facsimile: (03) 5887 5454
	Farm & Eco Holidays
	Riverview on the Edward Bed & Breakfast Balpool Rd Moulamein NSW 2733 Telephone: (03) 5887 5241 Facsimile: (03) 5887 5454
	Caravan Parks
	Moulamein Caravan Park Brougham St Moulamein NSW 2733 Telephone: (03) 5887 5206 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	Moulamein Bowling Club Recreation Reserve Moulamein NSW 2733 Telephone: (03) 5887 5151
	Tattersalls Hotel McBean Pl. Moulamein NSW 2733 Telephone: (03) 5887 5017