Red Cliffs

The red to orange cliffs of Red Cliffs are 70 metres high and give the town its name. Red Cliffs Scenic Reserve and its boardwalk offer views of wetlands and the striking Red Cliffs. The reserve is also home to Red Cliffs Lookout, a roadside viewpoint. If you’d like to combine landscape and local history on your trip, Red Cliffs offers tangible points of interest in both areas.

The origins of Red Cliffs

Red Cliffs became Australia’s largest irrigated soldier settlement. In 1920, returning soldiers began clearing the Mallee scrub there; 33,000 acres of land were allocated for the settlement. The town’s development thus links the clearing of the scrub with the history of an irrigated settlement. This background gives your visit a historical perspective, distinct from the landscapes of the scenic reserve.

Museums, collections and local history

The Red Cliffs Military Museum was established in 1997. It displays an extensive collection of artefacts and memorabilia, spanning the Boer War through to the wars in Vietnam and East Timor; all branches of the armed forces are represented. The collection offers a distinct insight into military history, alongside the story of the town’s origins and development.

In 1994, the Red Cliffs & District Historical Society received permission to use the Court House permanently as its headquarters. It houses a collection of historical objects, photographs, newspaper articles, books, maps and memorabilia. Red Cliffs Courthouse Museum features exhibitions on the early history of Red Cliffs and is operated by the Red Cliffs Historical Society.

The Red Cliffs Water Tower Mural also tells the story of the town: it depicts Red Cliffs’ history and was created in 1991 by students from Red Cliffs Secondary College under the direction of Broken Hill artist Clark Barrett. Big Lizzie played an important role in clearing the land on which Red Cliffs was established. Another historical date concerns the steam locomotive known as “Lukee” at the Red Cliffs Historical Steam Railway: it was built in 1901.

Markets, parks and regional produce

The Red Cliffs Country Market is held on the first Sunday of every month from 9 am to 1 pm in Ilex Street, along Indi Avenue and at Barclay Square. This makes it easy to include a specific date in your travel plans. The Old Court House Museum usually opened on the first Sunday of the month, during the Red Cliffs Country Market, from 10 am to 12 pm.

Quandong Park has a playground, a skate park and public toilets for residents and visitors. For families, the playground and skate park are practical local places to visit; the public toilets are also among the park’s listed facilities.

Mildura Farms in Red Cliffs stocks nuts, dried fruit, honey and juices from the region. Products are available in single-serve or bulk packs. If regional produce is one of your travel interests, this selection is a distinct culinary aspect of the town.

You can also find more ideas for places to visit as you plan your trip in Sedgwick, Bairnsdale, Elsternwick, Walwa, Grassdale, Humevale, Codrington and St Andrews Beach.

For the broader travel guide: Victoria.