NSWPort & river
Mulwala
An old punt town that never grew up, until a weir gave it a lake.
1858First town lots offered for sale
WHAT STARTED IT
A punt and inn here carried drovers and wool wagons across the Murray between the Riverina and Victoria. The government reserved a town at the crossing and offered its first lots for sale at Albury in 1858.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
Mulwala stayed small while Yarrawonga grew opposite, though it kept a customs house until Federation. The Yarrawonga Weir created Lake Mulwala in 1939, and a wartime explosives factory began making smokeless powder outside the town in 1944.
TURNING POINTS
1856A new punt at Mulwala is reported nearly complete.
1858Twenty lots within the Mulwala reserve are offered at Albury on 13 May.
1939Water impounded by the Yarrawonga Weir is named Lake Mulwala.
1944The Mulwala explosives factory starts producing smokeless powder.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A lakeside border town joined by bridge to Yarrawonga, busy with fishing, water sports and its licensed clubs. The explosives works remains on the town’s outskirts.