Six reasons to visit Albury/Wodonga

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This was published 10 years ago

Six reasons to visit Albury/Wodonga

By Richard Cornish
The historic Albury/Wodonga train station.

The historic Albury/Wodonga train station.

1. Carols by Candlelight
At this time of the year, across the state, thousands head to local parks to gather and sing Christmas carols. Next Sunday at sunset, Willow Park in Wodonga will become a sea of deckchairs and picnic blankets as hundreds of families wait for the rotund fellow in red to take to the stage under the river gums to belt out a number backed by the 40-strong Wodonga Brass band. This is very much a community event, with local performers and school groups performing 25 classic carols over the evening.
Sunday, December 15, 7.30pm, Willow Park, Wodonga, facebook.com/WodongaCarols

2. Excellent food
Wodonga's historic former railway station is the location of Broad Gauge, an elegant dining space where a local fine-dining duo, chef Jodie Jones and maitre d' Steve Carne, have settled in, serving excellent casual food. The menu is regionally focused, and might include Murray Valley pork ribs braised in a soy master stock, served with Asian coleslaw and a crisp omelet. Jones is well-versed in catering for special dietary requirements, and offers delicious dairy and gluten-free desserts that include seasonal berries.
Broad Gauge, Old Station Building, Elgin Boulevard, Tuesday-Saturday, 6pm-late, Friday-Saturday, noon-2pm, bookings essential, 0419 700 619

3. The bear lady
Eunice Eiseman retired as a milliner 20 years ago and took to handcrafting teddy bears instead. ''From making hats for temperamental women, I made beautiful bears that don't talk back,'' says the spritely Eiseman. She makes traditional fully jointed bears from German mohair in her double-garage studio showroom, where there are more than 20 bears on retail display. ''It's when you put the eyes on that they come alive,'' she says. Eiseman makes limited-edition bears every year. In the past she's depicted Tom Roberts, Peter Lalor, and Miranda from Picnic At Hanging Rock. Her 2013 collection celebrates Canberra's centenary with a bear sporting a special 20-cent coin medallion. Eunice and her bears are always there, but ring ahead to make sure.
Stanley Bears, 36 Lawson Street, Wodonga, (02) 6059 2552,
stanleybears.com.au

Eunice Eiseman, the bear lady.

Eunice Eiseman, the bear lady.

4. Aviation memorabilia
Azor Robbins and Alexander Porter were Melbourne motor mechanics who moved to Albury and caught the flying bug. They built a monoplane and in 1913 flew it 700 metres, six metres above the ground, on a nearby sheep station. It was powered by an engine they designed and built. It's part of an exhibition, First Flight, celebrating the centenary of that adventure, at the Albury LibraryMuseum until February 1. It also features a replica of the plane, historic photos and other early Albury aviation memorabilia.
Corner Kiewa and Swift streets, Albury, (02) 6023 8333

5. Army museum
''The faces of the people in our collections of photographs are just gold,'' says Major John Nelson. ''They can bring tears to the eyes of our army veterans.'' He's been in charge of the Army Museum Bandiana for 18 months and is constantly surprised by the quality of the collection amassed at the army barracks. There are more than 150 trucks, some that have seen service in operations overseas, including Vietnam. Also on display are Australian army uniforms worn by service personnel in conflicts from the Boer War to Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, plus hundreds of historic weapons and personal effects.
Anderson Road, South Bandiana, Monday-Saturday, 9.30-4.30pm, $5 entry, (02) 6055 2525

6. Cycling tracks
Wodonga has 80 kilometres of shared bike tracks. One popular ride runs through the ancient red gum forests and wetlands along the Murray River at Belvoir Park. There is also the 37km High Country Rail Trail that runs along the banks of the Hume Weir from Wodonga to Old Tallangatta (railtrails.org.au). The mostly gravel track follows the course of the former Cudgewa line and passes through the site of the Bonegilla Station, through which more than 300,000 migrants arrived for the nearby Bonegilla migrant camp, now a museum (www.bonegilla.org.au). The track passes close to the shore of Lake Hume, perfect for a quick dip on hot days. A new bridge at Sandy Creek has removed a nasty on-road section along the Murray Valley Highway.
Bike hire is available from Wodonga Visitor Information Centre in Hovell Street, 1300 796 222

6reasons@richardcornish.com.au

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