Barnadown: Campaspe River and Burke and Wills history

Barnadown combines a landscape along the Campaspe River with a history of early cattle drives and the Burke and Wills expedition. The town may appeal to travellers who want to shape their stay around riverside scenery, historic crossings and memorial sites. Camping and fishing are other things to consider when planning a trip; it is worth distinguishing between the specific sites and opportunities mentioned.

Campaspe River and landscape

The Campaspe River flows for 45 km through hilly country to Barnadown and then through flat farmland to Elmore. The landscapes change along this stretch of river: hilly country gives way to open, flat farmland. If you are considering Barnadown as a holiday destination, this description of the river’s course offers a specific point of reference for planning your trip.

Camping is permitted at Barnadown Bridge. Barnadown Streamside Reserve is a basic, free campsite on the Campaspe River. These two details offer different specific points of reference if you are looking into camping in Barnadown: the permission to camp at the bridge and the campsite described by the river. Camping and fishing are also possible at the bridges in Barnadown. The fishing opportunity is specifically tied to the bridges and should not be taken to mean that fishing is available at other sites or in other areas.

Crossings and Burke and Wills memorial sites

Barnadown’s history is also closely connected with the Campaspe River. Early settlers used Rocky Crossing near Barnadown as a cattle-driving route. Burke and Wills reached the river at Barnadown and crossed it on Kennedy’s Punt. Barnadown Bridge was built in 1868 to replace the punt. The cattle-driving route, punt and bridge therefore belong to different chapters of local history, each involving crossings over the river.

Kennedy’s “Clare Inn” was Camp VIII of the Burke and Wills expedition. The “Burke & Wills Centenary (Camp 8)” monument is a stone fireplace that commemorates the nearby camp of the 1860 expedition. The Waranga Shire Council erected the monument to mark the centenary of the Victorian Exploring Expedition’s passage through the Barnadown district in 1860. These connections make the expedition’s history in Barnadown tangible through specific names and places.

A stone monument also marks the Burke and Wills river crossing near the southern approach to the present-day bridge. Those interested in the expedition’s history can explore both the commemoration of Camp VIII and the crossing of the Campaspe River. The names and roles of the memorial sites tell different parts of the same expedition story: the camp, the passage through the district and the river crossing.

Getting there and choosing where to stay

The road to Barnadown Bridge and the car park there are considered to be in good condition. The access road is suitable for a 2WD vehicle in all weather. If you are choosing a holiday rental, you can consider Barnadown as a destination if riverside scenery, the camping and fishing opportunities mentioned, or the Burke and Wills history match your interests. The local facts offer guidance on the character of the destination; specific accommodation features should be considered separately.

If you would like to continue planning your trip with other places, consider Sedgwick, Tonimbuk, Sandhurst, Ultima, Rushworth, Lockington, Camberwell and Mongans Bridge.

For an overview of the wider area: Victoria.