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Swan Hill, Victoria

Swan Hill
Victoria
SwanHillPark.JPG
A park in central Swan Hill
Swan Hill is located in Rural City of Swan Hill
Swan Hill
Swan Hill
Coordinates 35°20′0″S 143°33′0″E / 35.33333°S 143.55000°E / -35.33333; 143.55000Coordinates: 35°20′0″S 143°33′0″E / 35.33333°S 143.55000°E / -35.33333; 143.55000
Population 9,894 (2011 census)
Established 1846
Postcode(s) 3585
Elevation 70 m (230 ft)
Location
LGA(s) Rural City of Swan Hill
State electorate(s) Murray Plains
Federal Division(s) Mallee
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
23.0 °C
73 °F 		9.7 °C
49 °F 		348.5 mm
13.7 in
Localities around Swan Hill:
Woorinen South Tyntynder South, Murrawee Murraydale
Swan Hill West Swan Hill New South Wales
Goschen Castle Donnington Pental Island

Swan Hill is a city in the northwest of Victoria, Australia on the Murray Valley Highway and on the south bank of the Murray River, downstream from the junction of the Loddon River. At the 2011 census, Swan Hill had a population of 9,894.

In the Dreamtime, Totyerguil (from the area now known as Swan Hill) ran out of spears while chasing Otchtout the cod. This chase is part of the mythology of the creation of the Murray River.

Based on evidence from Coobool Creek and Kow Swamp, it appears that Aboriginal people have lived in the area for the last 13,000–9,000 years. The area is inhabited by the Wemba-Wemba and Wati-Wati people. Swan Hill was called "Matakupaat" or "place of the Platypus" by the Wemba Wemba people.

The area was given its current name by explorer Thomas Mitchell, while camping beside a hill on 21 June 1836.

Among the reeds on the point of ground between the two rivers was a shallow lagoon where swans and other wild fowl so abounded that, although half a mile from our camp, their noise disturbed us through the night. I therefore named this somewhat remarkable and isolated feature Swan Hill, a point which may probably be found to mark the junction of two fine streams.

The European community grew up around a punt river crossing, which was established as early as 1846. This crossing serviced the growing agricultural area, and was the only river crossing for 100 km. The Post Office opened here on 1 February 1849.

In 1853 Francis Cadell navigated the Murray river from its mouth in South Australia to Swan Hill in his paddle steamer, Lady Augusta. He arrived on 17 September 1853, narrowly beating William Randell of Mannum, who arrived 4 hours later in the PS Mary Ann. This demonstrated the feasibility of river traffic, which flourished until the introduction of the railway.


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