Hopwoods Ferry

Echuca Victoria Australia

Henry Hopwood is believed to have first arrived in Echuca in 1850 and within a year had set up his 'New Road inn', also kown as the Tatallia. Hopwood also purchased the rights to Isaac White's punt, one of two punts providing crossings of the Murray River. Whites punt was sited at ikes Bend, upsteam from the Campaspe Junction. The second punt was owned and operated by James Maiden in Moama.

On purchasing the rights to White's punt Hopwood transferred the punt to his Perricoota property on which had built his Inn. Soon after 6th April 1853 nine square miles of land, including the site of Hopwoods Ferry was gazetted for the development of the Echuca township.

With the increased traffic as people moved stock across the Murray towards the Victoria goldfields Echuca began to grow rapdily. The Criterion (Hopwoods old house) is located just above the site of todays Echuca Wharf and by 1854 the punt was operating opposite Hopwood's Inn. A general store and butchers soon followed, again both built and owned by Hopwood. Hopwoods punt / ferry was soon outgrown by the increasing traffic and in 1857 Hopwood commission a Mr G Bates to build a pontoon bridge for him.

On the bridge Hopwood continued to charge crosiing rights for which he received considerable fees. In 1857 James Maiden sold the rights to his punt to Robinson and Stivens who in turn sold to Hopwood in 1862. Hopwood had effectively created a monopoly of crossings and controlled access to the Riverina.