Historic NSW-Victoria border town on the Murray River.
Howlong is a small and attractive riverside town on the border between New South Wales and Victoria. It is a service centre for the surrounding rural area and is notable for its excellent golf course, its idyllic Howlong Common beside the Murray River and its number of well-preserved nineteenth century buildings.
Location
Howlong lies on the NSW-Victoria border 584 km south-west of Sydney via the Hume and Riverina Highways and 318 km north-east of Melbourne via the Hume Freeway.
^ TOPOrigin of Name
The name 'Howlong' or 'Oolong', a Bangerang or Wiradjuri Aboriginal word, was first applied to a local property in the early 1840s by Isaac Rudd, an early settler. It is believed to mean either 'beginning of the plains' or 'the place of brolgas'.
^ TOPThings to See and Do
Howlong's Historic Buildings
If you want to explore the town's historic buildings you should visit the Howlong Resource Centre (in the main street) and get a Howlong Historic Walk Circuit brochure. The most important buildings in town are all numbered making them easy to identify.
The Resource Centre is closed on Sundays and Mondays, open Tuesday and Wednesday 10.00 am - 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm - 5.00pm, Thursday and Friday 10.00 am - 1.00 pm and Saturday 9.00 am - 11.30 am.
The most interesting historic buildings in town include:
(1) the restored Mill Hotel (1870s) now a private home.
(2) The Punt Hotel (1857) which is largely the same as the nineteenth-century building and is now a private residence. It is located on the Victorian side of the river.
(3) The Howlong Hotel (1857)
(4) The Court House Hotel (1879) which is the most prominent building in the main street.
(5) St. Thomas Anglican Church (1865)
(6) St. Andrews Presbyterian Church (1899)
(7) St. Brigid's Catholic Church (1877) which was originally in Hammer Street
(8) The Howlong Public School (1861)
(9) The Australasian Bank (1881) which is now the Howlong Resource Centre located at the corner of Hawkins and Hovell Streets.
(10) The Mechanics Institute (1887)
(11) The Post Office (1898) which remained as the town's Post Office until 2006. It has been turned into the charming and elegant 'The Old Post Office Bed and Breakfast" - see https://www.oldhowlongpost.com.
(12) Peppercorn Cottage
(13) The Flour Mill and cottage (1865)
In total the Howlong Historic Walk Circuit has a total of 28 places of historic interest around the town.
Riverside Attractions
Howlong is on the banks of the Murray River (it can be accessed via Victoria Street which is two blocks south of the Riverina Highway (Hawkins Street) and it is an ideal destination for fishing, boating and swimming. There is a kind of "swimming pool" at Howlong Common.
History
* Before the arrival of Europeans the area was inhabited by the Wiradjuri people who wandered across a large tract of land with Howlong being close to the southern border of their lands.
* The first European to pass through the area was NSW surveyor-general, Major Thomas Mitchell, who was returning to Sydney after his famous Australia Felix expedition into western Victoria. He crossed the Murray River at the location of the present townsite in 1836. There is a monument to Mitchell on the Victorian side of the river.
* In 1837 the brothers John and Joseph Hawdon settled 64,000 acres (25,900 ha) which they named Howlong Station.
* In 1838 Charles Bonney and Joseph Hawdon set off with 340 cattle in the first overland drive to South Australia, the longest journey of its kind to be attempted by Europeans in Australia. The men followed the tracks of Mitchell's party which were still visible by the riverbank.
* In 1838 the first mail delivery from Sydney to Port Phillip crossed the Murray at Howlong using horse and saddlebag.
* In the early 1840s a settler named Isaac Rudd took up a run called 'Hoolong' or 'Oolong' which he said was an Aboriginal place name meaning 'beginning of the plains'.
* In 1854 Howlong was surveyed with an upper and lower Howlong which eventually evolved into a single town. Town blocks went on sale in 1856.
* The town's first post office was opened in June, 1860 and operated for 38 years out of shops and hotels around the town.
* On 28 February, 1898 the Post Office (now a B&B) was officially opened on the corner of Sturt and Hawkins Streets.
^ TOPVisitor Information
Howlong Community Resource Centre, cnr Hawkins and Hovell St, Howlong, tel: (02) 6026 5055.
^ TOPUseful Websites
There is a local website. Check out http://www.visithowlong.com.au/ and there is a history page - http://www.howlonghistory.com.au/. There is an excellent North of the Murray website. Check out https://www.visitthemurray.com.au/places-to-go/east/corowaregion/places/howlong.
^ TOP
Does the Howlong Station homestead still exist?
My Dad and his mate were swaggies during the Great Depression, as was my GrandDad.
Dad and his mate worked at Howlong for a time in 1933.
Painting was one task they were given at the Station.
Some of dad’s photos of that time at Howlong exist, copies of which I am happy to supply.
Help please – I am looking for contact details of Jenny & Fred Bohner. The label on their products says “Souvenirs hand-modelled in Howlong AUSTRALIA” They make broaches and earrings. They may make other products as well but is broaches I have bought in Melbourne that I am interested in so I can order some more.
Any information would be helpful. Thanks
Joe Wooding who worked at the Border Mail in the early 50’s should have quite a lot of information about Howlong, as he is also a historian around Albury. You will have to go to the historical society in Albury to find out where you can contact him.
As a child growing up in that area I remember a lot of history. These are some of the searches you can do in the mean time.
Saleyards
Cobb and Co Stopover at the “Peppercorn Cottage”
Ned and other bushrangers crossing at the river at Howlong on way to Jerilderie.
Hume and Hovell
Transport from the Punt up the river to Albury (wool)
Slaughteryards
Duck Shooting
Fox Hunting
Fishing Comps (Murray Cod)
History on Businesses eg:
First Fish and Chip Shop (Gruerbers)
Baker Shop (Cliffs Dunstan)
Bouquets Shop
Hamilton’s Shop
Osborns Shop (apart from being a grocer they used to restring tennis racquets. Harry and son John.
Butcher Shop (Harry Drew)
Old Service Station (Sammy Reid)
McDonald family who ran the school bus to outlying areas to Moorwartha back to Howlong and Howlong to Carrols Lane and back past Sammons.
I really could go on, but this will give you a start. Good Luck.
Hi there, do you have any disability day centres in Howlong please
Is there any reference that the golf course was originally in the Main Street and later moved to it’s current location? Most people have either been golfers or have family that are, so the HOWLONG Golf Resort has one of the largest memberships in Australia. A direct question from me? Why has peppercorn cottage ever developed to a restaurant or something?
I hope you can use this info about the golf course as when new people come to play there they always spend money in town which is what HOWLONG always appreciates
With kind regards
Loretta Lehmann
My email address is
splash55@bigpond.com
Could you please give me details of how to find the complete history of Isaac Rudd of ‘Oolong or Howlong Station or where I can find the same.
Isaac is my husbands G Grandfather, grandson of Vivienne George Mortimer Rudd.
Thankyou in advance
Pam Rowe
My grandfather, Edgar William Bede Rudd’s birth certificate nominates him being born at Howlong Station in 1865. To William and Susannah Rudd but later lived at Harrington Park Estate in Campbelltown Nsw. His father,s occupation is squatter.
I am researching the Quinton Ancestry and have found a newspaper article about Mr John Quinton who lived on his property ‘Riverview’, Howlong for 18 years before he died. Could you tell me where this property is please?