My parents often took us for Sunday drives either to the bush, the beach or to look at Sydney Harbour.
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We always took curried egg and ham sandwiches. If Mum made scones, too, our picnic included a fire to have ‘billy tea'.
Last Sunday my husband and I went to Corowa with our curried egg and ham sandwiches, but no scones.
We drove up the Hume Hwy to the Rutherglen/Corowa turnoff.
My husband has always known this as the "three-chain road" because it is unusually wide.
Day trips: A quintessential little country village
He has no idea why it was surveyed this size all the way to the Murray River.
As we passed Bullers Winery we noticed the full car park and commented that everyone must be having lunch at Ripe Restaurant.
All Saints Winery was similarly busy suggesting that bookings might prevent disappointment for Sunday lunches these days.
Instead of turning towards Wahgunyah and crossing the Murray over the pretty heritage-listed John Foord Bridge, we chose the newer Federation Bridge allowing us to easily find Gallery 294 (294 Honour Avenue-Albury Rd, closed Wednesdays).
Day trips: An Indigenous education
This gallery in a little house sells a range of high-standard arts and crafts including paintings by Barbara Pritchard from Corryong.
Her current exhibition depicts images after the fires.
She has cleverly mixed chalk with other mediums.
Margaret Wilmot makes beautiful felted merino shawls.
I believe they are often bought as gifts for dignitaries.
Nearby is Corowa Whisky and Chocolate in the old flour mill.
It is off the main road, but you cannot miss it with the huge grain silos behind that have escaped silo art.
Not only can you taste a range of their single-malt whiskies of different strengths (1x $5, 5x $15) but you see where it is distilled.
Unfortunately COVID-19 restrictions still preclude distillery tours.
Day Trips: Artistic adventures
We had coffee at the Mill Cafe then explored the chocolate factory that uses premium Belgian chocolate.
I bought a slab of whisky chocolate for a gift, but it will probably get eaten first.
Our trip was prompted by a suggestion that we visit the Wacky Bird Gallery owned by Christine Upton, a Master Lino cutter.
It is a one-artist gallery at 37 Edward St (Friday to Monday only).
Day Trips: Myrtleford via Milawa
She is inspired by Australian wildlife and plants and many paintings have crytic or hidden meaning, which she will only reveal if you ask.
Her latest COVID-19 work has three herons, I think they are white-eared night herons, but I could be wrong.
One is looking down ignoring or denying COVID-19, another looking backwards and the third has its head high looking towards the future.
Christine will show you how she makes her works, which is a multi-staged and time-consuming process.
Driving around Corowa reveals many beautiful old homes and a charming genteel lifestyle.
Originally home of the Bangarang Tribe, the word Corowa is thought to come from the curra pine, its gum used to make spears.
Wahgunya developed before Corowa after John Foord and John Crisp settled in the 1840s.
Steamboat transport in the 1850s led John Foord to build two riverside warehouses and a punt.
Day Trips: One thing leads to another
Corowa was proclaimed a town in 1858 and the bridge replaced the punt in 1859.
For the next 20 years Corowa's growth was hindered by the "exorbitant" bridge crossing toll collected in Victoria, while NSW practised free trade.
Known as "the birthplace of federation" these cross-border issues and different laws in each state became pivitol matters that led to the Corowa Conference in 1893 and ultimately the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.
The Corowa Federation Museum in Queen St has an extensive historic display complimented by 14 plaques in the main street.
It also houses a copy of Tom Robert's iconic Shearing of the Rams painting and has the story behind the depiction of the nearby Brocklesby Station shed.
We drove home beside the river, past Lake Mulwala and through Yarrawonga discussing how some things never change.
It was another fabulous day trip.
- Suzie Pearce
Editor