Locale | Wymah, New South Wales – Granya, Victoria in Australia |
---|---|
Waterway | Murray River |
Transit type | Cable ferry |
Owner | |
Operator | New South Wales Roads & Maritime Services |
Began operation | 19th century |
The Wymah Ferry is a cable ferry across the upper reach of Lake Hume, on the Murray River and on the border between the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria. The ferry crosses from the community of Wymah on the New South Wales side of the river, to Granya, and is approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) east of Albury. [1]
The ferry is controlled by the New South Wales Roads & Maritime Services, but is jointly funded by both states. It operates seven days a week, and is free of tolls. From September to April, the ferry operates on demand from 06:00 to 21:00, and from 07:00 to 20:00 for the rest of the year, with several breaks during the day. If the ferry is not in operation, the alternatives are an 85 kilometres (53 mi) detour downstream via the Bethanga Bridge and Albury, or a 120 kilometres (75 mi) detour upstream via Jingellic. [1]
The ferry route probably dates back to the 19th century. When the Hume Dam was completed in 1936, the range of the ferry had to be increased in order to cross the raised and widened water level of Lake Hume. [2]
The previous ferry boat was constructed principally of wood, and built in 1946. The hull was 10.7 metres (35 ft) long and 5.1 metres (17 ft) wide, with 4.95 metres (16.2 ft) long landing ramps at each end. The engine house was cantilevered approximately 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in) out to the side. Because of the variation in the water level in Lake Hume, the ferry operated between floating landing stages which are attached to each bank. The position of the landing stages was adjusted by hand winch to suit the level of the water. [2] It was retired on 14 May 2013 and replaced by a new vessel. [3] [4] [5]
The Wymah Ferry is one of only two cable ferries to cross the section of the Murray River between New South Wales and Victoria, the other being the Speewa Ferry nearly 500 kilometres (310 mi) downstream. However, there are another 11 such ferries further downstream, on the South Australian section of the river. [1] [6]
In April 2019 the service was suspended due to low water levels. [7]
The Murray River is a river in southeastern Australia. It is Australia's longest river at 2,508 km (1,558 mi) in length, and its tributaries include five of the next six longest rivers of Australia, whose catchment area together form the Murray-Darling basin.
Dartmouth Dam is a large rock-fill embankment dam with an uncontrolled chute spillway across the Mitta Mitta, Gibbo, and Dart rivers, the Morass Creek and a number of small tributaries. The dam is located near Mount Bogong in the north-east of the Australian state of Victoria. The dam's purpose includes irrigation, the generation of hydro-electric power, water supply and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Dartmouth Reservoir, sometimes called Lake Dartmouth. The Dartmouth Power Station, a hydro-electric power station that generates power to the national grid, is located near the dam wall.
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Hume Highway and the northern side of the Murray River. Albury is the seat of local government for the council area which also bears the city's name – the City of Albury.
The Hume Highway, inclusive of the sections now known as the Hume Freeway and Hume Motorway, is one of Australia's major inter-city national highways, running for 840 kilometres (520 mi) between Melbourne in the southwest and Sydney in the northeast. Upgrading of the route from Sydney's outskirts to Melbourne's outskirts to dual carriageway was completed on 7 August 2013.
Murrumbidgee River, a major tributary of the Murray River within the Murray–Darling basin and the second longest river in Australia. It flows through the Australian state of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. It descends 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) as it flows 1,485 kilometres (923 mi) in a west-northwesterly direction from the foot of Peppercorn Hill in the Fiery Range of the Snowy Mountains towards its confluence with the Murray River near Boundary Bend.
Hume Dam, formerly the Hume Weir, is a major dam across the Murray River downstream of its junction with the Mitta River in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, hydro-power, irrigation, water supply and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Hume, formerly the Hume Reservoir. It is a gated concrete gravity dam with four earth embankments and twenty-nine vertical undershot gated concrete overflow spillways.
The Loddon River, an inland river of the north–central catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the lower Riverina bioregion and Central Highlands and Loddon Mallee regions of the Australian state of Victoria. The headwaters of the Loddon River rise on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range east of Daylesford and descend to flow north into the Little Murray River, near Swan Hill. The river is impounded by the Cairn Curran and Laanecoorie reservoirs. The Tullaroop Creek tributary which joins just above Laanecoorie Reservoir, is impounded by the Tullaroop Reservoir (72,950ML).
Lake Mulwala, a man–made reservoir created through the construction of the Yarrawonga Weir across the Murray River, is located between Bundalong and Yarrawonga in Hume region of Victoria and Mulwala in the Riverina region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The weir was constructed in 1939 to provide water for irrigation of the surrounding district. The weir also serves as a crossing of the Murray between the two towns; in addition to the crossing located via the Mulwala Bridge.
The Yass River, a perennial river that is part of the Murrumbidgee catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the Southern Tablelands and South Western Slopes districts of New South Wales, Australia.
The King River, a perennial river of the North-East Murray catchment of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the alpine and Hume regions of Victoria, Australia. It flows from the northwestern slopes of the Alpine National Park in the Australian Alps, through the King Valley, and joining with the Ovens River at the rural city of Wangaratta.
The Speewa Ferry is a cable ferry across the Murray River on the border between the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria. The ferry is located in the community of Speewa, Victoria, approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Swan Hill, off the road between Swan Hill and Nyah.
The Ulmarra Ferry is a cable ferry across the Clarence River in New South Wales, Australia. The ferry operates between the town of Ulmarra and Southgate.
Goobarragandra River, a perennial stream that is part of the Murrumbidgee catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia.
The Tarcutta Creek, part of the Murray Darling basin, is mostly a perennial stream located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia.
Woomargama National Park is a national park situated 20 kilometres (12 mi) south east of Holbrook and 30 kilometres (19 mi) north east of Albury, in the South West Slopes region of southern New South Wales. Southern extremities of the park are within one kilometre of Lake Hume which is formed on the Murray River. The park extends over approximately 30 km from eastern to western boundaries and 15 km in a north to south direction. In 2006, the park covered an area of 23,577 hectares and at the same time an area of associated reserve covered 7,120 hectares. In 2010 the park alone covered 24,185 ha.
The Menindee Lakes is a chain of shallow ephemeral freshwater lakes connected to the Darling River to form a storage system. The lakes lie in the far west region of New South Wales, Australia, near the town of Menindee.
The Bethanga Bridge is a steel truss road bridge that carries the Riverina Highway across Lake Hume, an artificial lake on the Murray River in Australia. The dual heritage-listed bridge crosses the border between the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria, linking the Victorian towns of Bellbridge and Bethanga with the regional New South Wales city of Albury.
The Adelong Creek, a perennial river that is part of the Murrumbidgee catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the South West Slopes, and Riverina regions of New South Wales, Australia.
The Jugiong Creek, a mostly–perennial river that is part of the Murrumbidgee catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia.
The Derringullen Creek, a mostly–perennial river that is part of the Murrumbidgee catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia.
Next crossing upstream | Murray River | Next crossing downstream |
Jingellic Bridge | Wymah Ferry | Bethanga Bridge |
Coordinates: 36°02′23″S147°15′56″E / 36.039817°S 147.265613°E