The City of Albury sits on the mighty Murray River. The Murray marks the Southern border of NSW with the state of Victoria. While Albury sits on the NSW side of the river, Wodonga is on the Victorian side. These twin cities form one of Australia’s larger inland districts in terms of population outside of the major cities.
The area has long been a transport hub. due, In Part, to it’s location between Sydney and Melbourne, right on the major freeway and rail hubs. Historically, Albury was also a port for paddle steamers on the Murray River.
Early beginnings
The first locals of Albury were the Wiradjuri people.
They were followed by explorers Hume & Hovell who inscribed a tree and crossed the River here. The river was named Hume River after the explorer’s father. However Charles Sturt came across the river a number of years later. Not realising it was the same river named it the Murray River. That said, Hume and Hovell still retained plenty of naming rights in the area. These include the Hume Weir to the East of town and the Hume Freeway which passes through town. The Hume Freeway is the major route between Sydney and Melbourne.
When we were living in Mount Beauty, we visited Albury on a number of occasions as it is the closest larger city with some of the more major retail outlets.
Our first visit was during the bushfires. We escaped the heat with a movie and dinner at the Commercial Club. The Commercial Club is a major entertainment venue in town, a bit like a small casino. Since I was a kid, we loved going there for the buffet, although it turns out I can’t eat the same way I used to.
An Afternoon in Town
We returned to Albury to see some of the local sites and find out what we could see with just an afternoon in town.
I started off with one of the more recognisable landmarks around town, Memorial Hill. You can see the hill and its monument from most locations around town. The Memorial serves as a reminder of the sacrifice that so many have made for our freedom. The memorial is surrounded by parkland, making it not only a great place to reflect but even to get some exercise. Most towns have some form of war memorial where the town gathers on Anzac Day (April 25) to commemorate the first landing in Galipoli.
The next stop was the Albury Botanic Gardens. Located just down the hill from the memorial and not far from down town, the Botanic Gardens boast lush lawns with a wide variety of plant species. With free entry, the gardens could be the perfect place to pull over. A serene place for a quick walk if you are passing through as part of a longer trip.
Down toward the River, there is plenty of additional parkland to enjoy. The Murray traditionally acted like a liquid highway teaming with paddle steamers and barges.
Dining
Other than the Commercial Club, there are a number of other venues in town. Plenty of places where you can wet your whistle or stave off your hunger.
The River Deck Cafe
Down by the Murray River, the River Deck Cafe offers a great view and atmosphere to accompany their delicious food.
The Brick Lane
The Brick Lane was our first restaurant dining experience since Covid-19 hit. It felt odd at first, but the staff made us feel welcome and served us up some delicious food for lunch. I got the lasagne which was delicious.
Monumental Ice Creamery
Of course, no town visit is truly complete without a visit to the local ice cream shop. The Monumental Ice Creamery has plenty of delicious flavours to choose from.
When you visit Albury where do you love to eat?
