Victoria has a nice straight border with South Australia and our southern border is of course dictated by the coast. But let us focus on Victoria's northern border. In the voice of Sir Les Patterson, are you with me?
The Murray River dictates most of the border. Victoria lost out big time against New South Wales as the dividing line is the top of the southern bank of the river, meaning the Murray River is in New South Wales. Technically, or perhaps even for real, if a Victorian wants to fish in the Murray, he or she needs a New South Wales fishing licence. Along with stealing our water upstream, it is just another reason for Victorians to hate New South Wales people. The Murray rises in the east, the right of the map, and flows into South Australia where it empties into a large estuary.
But what about the straight bit of the border to right, to the east? The line goes through heavily timbered and mountainous country. It was laboriously surveyed in the 1800s, yet with primitive instruments, surveyed quite accurately. It has been checked with modern GPS technology and the early surveyors were pretty well spot on. There is a walking trail along the border. Better that you walk than me. You can see some early cairn markers of stones left by the surveyors. The border was accepted in the 1800s.
Accepted the border was, but official? No, not until 2006 did it receive official recognition with a ceremony just south of the small border town of Delegate. Then Governor of New South Wales Dame Marie Bashir and then Victorian Governor Mr John Landy officiated at the ceremony. Did Landy nick Bashir's fishing license from her back pocket as they shook hands, so that he could fish in the Murray River?
Photo from news.com.au
Photo from news.com.au