Corowa

Corowa is a border town between New South Wales and Victoria. Located on the Murray River Lake Mulwala and the Rutherglen Wine Regions are dominant features for the local area. The district has long been a producer of wool, wine grapes, timber and gold mining. The section of the Murray River between Albury and Swan Hill is popular with local tourists especially in summer. Corowa is in the heart of this tourist belt.

Corowa has played a large role in the history of Australia. The conference held there in the early 1890's was instrumental in advancing a scheme for a popularly elected convention to prepare a draft Federal constitution. The people living along the Murray in Victoria and New South Wales were amongst the keenest proponents of a federal system as the inconvenience of tolls and customs houses over the Murray River was ever present.

Get in

By plane

Closest airport is at Albury. Albury is a major regional airport, with car hire facilities and regular services to Sydney and Melbourne. There is an airport at Corowa, but there are no scheduled passenger services.

By train

Connections to the train are by coach to Wangaratta and on to Melbourne, or coach to Albury and onto Sydney.

By car

Corowa is a 30 minute diversion from the Hume Highway/Freeway via the B58 Riverina Highway. Corowa is 600 km south west of Sydney via the Hume Highway.

See

Sanger street has a number of 19th century buildings famed for their connection to the Federation conventions. At the top of the street is the Oddfellows Hall where the public meetings were held and at the bottom of the street is the Globe Hotel where conference delegates ate their meals. There are also other excellent buildings from that era.

• Corowa Federation Museum, 56 Queen St, ☏ +61 2 6033 1164. 
• Oddfellows Hall, Sanger street. The hall was completely renovated in 2010 and is in excellent condition inside and out. The shire council manages the premises and they should be approached if you wish to see inside. (updated Jul 2024)

Do

• Murray to the Mountains Railtrail. This section of the railtrail connects Corowa to Rutherglen. (updated Oct 2017)

Eat

• Corowa RSL Club, 30 Betterment Parade, ☏ +61 2 6030 5000. (updated Jun 2021)
• DOCS, cnr Sanger and River st. small cafe. Excellent breakfasts with fun communal table. (updated Jul 2024)

Sleep

There is a range of motels to choose from. In the main street alone there are motels with prices from less than $100pn to over $300pn

• Lone Pine Motel, 17 Lone Pine Ave, ☏ +61 2 6033 2966, fax: +61 2 6033 2506. 
• Meneres Motel, Federal Avenue. neat motel, friendly management. Has BBQ and large grassed area at the rear of the premises A$130 per double. (updated Jul 2024)

Go next

Corowa can be a small town based to explore the Riverina. Albury is a short drive away, and the wineries around Rutherglen.

Routes through Corowa

Deniliquin ← Berrigan ←

W  E

→ Albury → Lake Hume