Day 3

After a lazy start we wandered around town, had a coffee at 'Mocha Mecca', and headed down to the river for our cruise on the paddle steamer Melbourne

This vessel has its original steam machinery which can be seen in operation 

The cruise goes a couple of Kms down the river and back, and this involves traversing Lock 11.

The photo above shows the lock filling up on our return journey. As well as being a steam experience it was also a relaxing, scenic experience.

After returning to town and having lunch, we headed off to explore. First to Woodsies Gem Shop, then on the the 'Psyche Pump' upstream from town. The pump was designed by George Chaffey, is the only one of its type in existence and was built in England, shipped out and put together on site in 1891 and the pump house built around it. It was used up until 1951 to pump water up 30 metres from the Murray River to the Mildura irrigation area. 

This monster is only steamed occasionally, unfortunately not today.

We returned to Mildura, spent some time relaxing in the park beside the lock, then for a relaxing meal at the Grand Hotel