Corryong

It is located 120 kilometres east of Albury-Wodonga, near the upper reaches of the Murray River and thus close to the New South Wales border. Its population is 1,215 (ABS figures, 1996). It is reachable by road along the Murray Valley Highway, and is indeed the eastern endpoint of this highway. Further eastern travel puts a driver on the Alpine Way[?], until recently a dirt road.

Industries in the area involve mainly agriculture and forestry, particularly beef and dairy farming, though some farmers are experimenting with more exotic farming enterprises. The forestry industries include both harvesting native eucalypts and the extensive pine plantations in the area. The town itself exists primarily to service these industries.

Its location makes it the Victorian gateway to the New South Wales snowfields, including the Thredbo[?] ski village, and the Snowy Mountains Scheme. It is a waystation for many travellers, particularly those on motorcycles[?], travelling across Australia's highest mountains. Other tourists come to fish in the river and other nearby waterways, or to partake in horseriding around the mountain areas surrounding the town.

It is also of note as the home of Jack Riley[?], a stockman whose horseriding skills reputedly made him the inspiration for Banjo Patterson's The Man From Snowy River. Whether this is true or not, the local government uses this claim extensively in its tourist promotions and holds a "high country festival" annually.

Corryong is close to the Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park and the massive Alpine National Park. The Kosciuszko National Park is located nearby across the state border.