Page updated: June 13, 2008

Myrtleford is a town of some 3,500 people located 223 m above sea-level on the Great Alpine Road between Wangaratta and Bright in north-east Victoria. Myrtleford is 273 km north-east of Melbourne via the Hume Freeway.

It is beautifully positioned in the northern foothills of the Mt Buffalo Range adjacent the Ovens River, Happy Valley Creek and Barwidgee Creek. As a result of its location it serves as a gateway to Mt Buffalo National Park and its associated skiing resorts.

Beautiful scenery, tranquillity, rivers and mountain views will enchant visitors to Myrtleford, nestled in the Ovens Valley with Mt Buffalo providing a dramatic backdrop. The town is a flourishing commercial centre and the hub for timber, hops and the expanding premium winegrape market.


Travelling on foot or by bicycle is the best way to explore Myrtleford and its surrounds. There's a wonderful view of the town from Reform Hill which you can reach via the walking tracks. On the western side of town on the Great Alpine Road is the Phoenix Tree, where, to the centre of its root system you will see the Phoenix Bird sculptured by Hans Knorr. At the entrance to the town is a old log Tobacco Kiln which has been relocated and represents one of the industries that Myrtleford has been built on.

Approaching Myrtleford, travellers are struck by the beauty of the mountains. From these mountains run fresh clean waters to make the creeks and streams which finally join together to form the Ovens River. This river has been the life blood of Myrtleford since 1837 when the first squatter John Hillas erected his huts and stockyards on its banks. Soon after, miners began to arrive in the region in search of gold. The track the miners hacked along the Ovens, River is now the Great Alpine Road.

Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail

Experience the beautiful Ovens Valley by walking or cycling along the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail. This is an old, disused railway line that has recently been converted into a walking and cycling track, and is now available for public use.

The track currently extends from Myrtleford through to Bright to the South, and to Gapsted, Wangaratta and Beechworth to the North. Easy gradients and wide curves make the track suitable for all ages, and you will encounter interesting cuttings, bridges and reminders of railway eras. In addition, the railway reserves are ideal corridors for nature conservation.

This section of Rail Trail is part of the Victorian Rail Trail Project which is setting the pace in converting "rails to trails". Changed transport needs have left a network of disused railway lines across the state, which offer tremendous opportunities for recreation and tourism. By the time the project is completed, a total of 700 km of disused railway line will be converted to tracks for the public to enjoy.

Lake Buffalo

Set at the foot of Mt Buffalo, Lake Buffalo is a man-made picturesque lake located on the Buffalo River. It is a part of the Murray River system, with a storage capacity of 24,000 ml. It supplies water to Wangaratta and the many farms and hop gardens in the Buffalo Valley. It is an excellent spot for fishing, boating, swimming and water skiing, and has picnic facilities.

Lake Buffalo is approximately 20km from Myrtleford. There is no camping allowed around Lake Buffalo, camping sites are located 14.2km south of Lake. See information board for camping details

Fishing is also popular on the Ovens and Buffalo Rivers, Rose River and Barwidgee Creek.

Agriculture

For many years tobacco growing was the main agricultural industry around Myrtleford, contributing $28 million each year at the farm gate. This all came to an end in 2006 when the growers accepted a financial package from British American Tobacco, Phillip Morris and the Australian Government to terminate production as it was cheaper to source leaf from overseas.

Today, there is a boom in wine-grape production as well as other crops such as walnuts, chestnuts and cherries. New wineries have sprung up and the availability of fresh produce has encouraged people to open quality restaurants and bistros.

From what was seen as a major blow to the town's economy, the advent of other crops and the rapid expansion of the tourism industry linked to food and wine has given Myrtleford a new lease on life!