Photographs of the Upper Murray
Images of Australian Rivers
This gallery presents photographs of the Upper Murray — the headwaters region of Australia's longest river, from the twin cities of Albury–Wodonga on the NSW–Victorian border up through the spectacular Lake Hume catchment to the Murray's alpine origins near Mount Kosciuszko. The upper Murray catchment covers just 2% of the basin area yet provides around 17% of its water.
The twin towns of Albury–Wodonga straddle the Victorian/New South Wales border, with the mighty Murray River (Australia's longest river) separating the two. The two centres are home to over 100,000 residents and service the rich agricultural area spanning the upper Murray and the Riverina.
The River Murray is Australia's longest river, running a course of 2,500 km from near Mount Kosciuszko in the Australian Alps to the Southern Ocean at Goolwa, in South Australia. The catchment description of the River Murray covers three sections — upper, central, and lower.
The upper River Murray catchment takes in the headwaters of the Murray and its many tributaries, extending about 300 km to the Hume Dam. Located in New South Wales and Victoria, the catchment covers about 2% of the basin area. Still, it provides about 17% of the water.
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Lake Hume
Lake Hume, the 20,000-hectare body of water that resulted from the damming of the Mitta Mitta and Murray rivers near Albury, was a project that took seven years to build and when finished in 1936 was the largest dam in the southern hemisphere and one of the biggest in the world.
To say it is a huge body of water is an understatement — water retained upstream through both the Murray and Mitta Mitta rivers stretches over 40 kilometres, and it is a haven for water sports, fishing, and camping.
As early as the 1860s, landholders of the Riverina had discussed flood mitigation options, but it wasn't until the early 1900s that work began on a solution to better manage the seasonal flows of the Murray and Mitta Mitta rivers.
In 1919, work started on damming the Murray River just downstream from its junction with the Mitta Mitta. The Hume dam, completed in 1936, was the biggest in the southern hemisphere at the time, and the resultant reservoir retained water extending 40 km upstream from the dam and covered 20,000+ hectares.
Originally designed to hold 1,500 Gigalitres, Lake Hume's capacity was doubled in the late 1950s to capitalise on the increased flow that resulted from the Snowy Hydro Scheme; the increase was primarily due to the tunnelled diversion of the Snowy River to the western side of the Great Dividing Range.
Lake Hume, which was named in honour of the explorer Hamilton Hume, is currently at around 40% capacity and while it may look good, it is considered low — but a lot better than the <10% of a few years back.
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Upper Murray River vista at Gadd's Bend, located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
An Upper Murray River vista photographed during drought (2016). The original course of the Murray River is visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia
A misty winter's morning on the Upper Murray River at Gadds Bend near Walwa. Located downstream of Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, NSW, Australia.
Morning Mist at Gadds Bend, camping. Located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria
Morning Mist at Gadds Bend, camping. Located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria
Panorama of the Bethanga Bridge that spans Lake Hume joining Greater Albury with the Victorian side of the Upper Murray
The Murray River at Gadd's Bend, located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
Night Glow at Gadds Bend, Dylan Robinson on the bank. Located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria
A misty winter's morning on the Upper Murray River at Gadds Bend near Walwa. Located downstream of Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, NSW, Australia.
A misty winter's morning on the Upper Murray River at Gadds Bend near Walwa. Located downstream of Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, NSW, Australia.
Looking downstream along the Murray River at Gadds Bend, camping. Located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria
Looking downstream along the Murray River at Gadds Bend, camping. Located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria
Lake Hume Sunset. Summer sunset and a beautiful reflection on the calm waters of Hume Weir at the end of the day at Lake Hume (Murray River) near Albury, NSW, Australia.
Lake Hume Sunset. Summer sunset and a beautiful reflection on the calm waters of Hume Weir at the end of the day at Lake Hume (Murray River) near Albury, NSW, Australia.
Lake Hume Sunset. Summer sunset and a beautiful reflection on the calm waters of Hume Weir at the end of the day at Lake Hume (Murray River) near Albury, NSW, Australia.
Lake Hume Sunset. Summer sunset and a beautiful reflection on the calm waters of Hume Weir at the end of the day at Lake Hume (Murray River) near Albury, NSW, Australia.
Bethanga Bridge that spans Lake Hume joining Greater Albury with the Victorian side of the Upper Murray
An Upper Murray River vista photographed during drought (2016). The original course of the Murray River is visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia
An Upper Murray River vista photographed during drought (2016). The original course of the Murray River is visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia
An Upper Murray River vista photographed during drought (2016). The original course of the Murray River is visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia
Photograph of the original course of the Murray River and original trees that lined the banks visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia.
Photograph of the original course of the Murray River and original trees that lined the banks visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia.
Photograph of the original course of the Murray River and original trees that lined the banks visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia.
Photograph of the original course of the Murray River and original trees that lined the banks visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia.
Photograph of the original course of the Murray River and original trees that lined the banks visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia.
Photograph of the original course of the Murray River and original trees that lined the banks visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia.
Photograph of the original course of the Murray River and original trees that lined the banks visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia.
Photograph of the original course of the Murray River and original trees that lined the banks visible due to the low level of Lake Hume, NSW, Australia.
A misty winter's morning on the Upper Murray River at Gadds Bend near Walwa. Located downstream of Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, NSW, Australia.
Willow in the morning mist at Gadds Bend, camping. Located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria
Looking upstream along the Murray River towards Gadds Bend, camping. Located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria
Looking upstream along the Murray River towards Gadds Bend, camping. Located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria
Upper Murray Vista photograph looking upstream from midway up Lake Hume from River Road, on the NSW side of the Murray River, Australia
Night lights around the campsite at Gadds Bend. Gadd's Bend, located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
Night lights around the campsite at Gadds Bend. Gadd's Bend, located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
Night lights around the campsite at Gadds Bend. Gadd's Bend, located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
Night lights around the campsite at Gadds Bend. Gadd's Bend, located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
The Restored Slab Hut at Tom Groggin Station in the Victorian High Country
The commemorative cross in memory of Jack Reily at Tom Groggin Station in the Victorian High Country
The commemorative cross in memory of Jack Reily at Tom Groggin Station in the Victorian High Country
The Murray River at Tom Groggin Station, Victorian High Country
The historic hut at Tom Groggin Station, Victorian High Country
Night lights around the campsite at Gadds Bend. Gadd's Bend, located near Walwa on the Murray River. Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
Lake Hume Sunset. Summer sunset and a beautiful reflection on the calm waters of Hume Weir at the end of the day at Lake Hume (Murray River) near Albury, NSW, Australia.
Horsehoe lagoon, an anabranch of the Murray River, downstream from Albury, on Australia's Victorian/New South Wales border.
Spectacular winter's morning on the Upper Murray; during the recent drought, the low level of Lake Hume reveals the original course of the Murray River and the river gum trees that lined its banks.
Spectacular winter's morning on the Upper Murray; during the recent drought, the low level of Lake Hume reveals the original course of the Murray River and the river gum trees that lined its banks.
Spectacular winter's morning on the Upper Murray; during the recent drought, the low level of Lake Hume reveals the original course of the Murray River and the river gum trees that lined its banks.
Spectacular winter's morning on the Upper Murray; during the recent drought, the low level of Lake Hume reveals the original course of the Murray River and the river gum trees that lined its banks.
Spectacular winter's morning on the Upper Murray; during the recent drought, the low level of Lake Hume reveals the original course of the Murray River and the river gum trees that lined its banks.
A morning mist creates a beautiful scene amongst the trees near Mount Granya, Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
A morning mist creates a beautiful scene amongst the trees near Mount Granya, Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
A morning mist creates a beautiful scene amongst the trees near Mount Granya, Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
A morning mist creates a beautiful scene amongst the trees near Mount Granya, Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
The forest near Mt Granya, Upper Murray, comes back to life after the horrific bushfires during the summer of 2019/20. Mount Granya, Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia.
A beautiful winter scene (black and white photograph) of the deciduous trees at Noreuil Park, located beside the Murray River at Albury, New South Wales, Australia
A beautiful winter scene (color photograph) of the deciduous trees at Noreuil Park, located beside the Murray River at Albury, New South Wales, Australia
A beautiful winter scene (black and white photograph) of the deciduous trees at Noreuil Park, located beside the Murray River at Albury, New South Wales, Australia
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Upper Murray?
The Upper Murray refers to the headwaters section of the Murray River, extending from near Mount Kosciuszko in the Australian Alps down approximately 300 km to the Hume Dam near Albury–Wodonga on the NSW–Victorian border. It is the most elevated and alpine section of Australia's longest river system.
What does this Upper Murray photography gallery show?
The gallery captures the landscapes and atmosphere of the upper Murray catchment — the stillness of Lake Hume at dawn, the river's alpine character, the rural scenes around Albury–Wodonga, and the tall timber country of the river's headwaters.
What is Lake Hume?
Lake Hume is the large reservoir created by the Hume Dam on the Murray River near Albury–Wodonga, completed in 1936. At the time it was the largest dam in the southern hemisphere. The lake covers 20,000+ hectares and is a major destination for water sports, fishing, and camping. It was named after the explorer Hamilton Hume.
Can I buy prints of these Upper Murray photographs?
Yes. Fine-art prints and wall art from this gallery are available at the Red Dust Snow wall art store. Prints are available in a range of sizes and media.
What is the Snowy Hydro Scheme's connection to Lake Hume?
The Snowy Hydro Scheme, completed in stages from the 1950s onwards, tunnelled water from the Snowy River to the western side of the Great Dividing Range, increasing flows into the Murray system. This extra inflow was a key reason Lake Hume's capacity was doubled in the late 1950s from 1,500 Gigalitres to its current capacity.
Explore More Australian River Photography
Follow the Murray from its alpine origins all the way to the outback — and discover the Darling River, the Corner Country, and beyond.
Murray River Gallery Darling River Gallery Murray River Wall Art