The Man from Snowy River is a story etched into our Aussie psyche, written by one of Australia’s greatest poets and storytellers, Banjo Patterson, evoking the true spirit of the Aussie pioneers, the bushmen, the horsemen of yesteryear. Who was this man?

Rumour has it, strong rumour, that Banjo modelled his iconic character on an acquaintance of his, Jack Riley, who lived a solitary, hard life working  as a bushman around the Snowy Mountains and northern Victorian Alpine region, back in the late 1800s.

Corryong, situated in the far northeast corner of Victoria, bears witness to Jack’s legacy. Not only is his well-tended grave in the town cemetery, but there is an exceptional museum down the main road, Hanson St, telling Jack’s story.

And not only Jack’s story, but many other colourful characters of the era. Wild Wright is one, a compatriot of the notorious Ned Kelly; bushman, horseman, and more significantly, renowned horse thief. 

Jim Simpson, a local Corryong man who became an RAAF flight officer in WW2, and after being shot down,  spent 18 months  in a German POW camp. Told his woollen jumper would be confiscated, Jim unravelled it into balls of wool,defying his German captors. He then started reknitting  the wool to provide socks for his fellow prisoners, and also created a superb rug with Australia as its centrepiece. All from memory. This rug is proudly displayed by the museum; it is quite remarkable.

Then there was local Corryong Rotarian 58-year-old Graham Middleton, semi-retired bus driver, who in 1991 swam the entire length of the Murray River, 2366 kms over 138 consecutive days, to raise funds for childhood cancer research. Never before attempted, and an ultimate $200,000 raised, newspapers of the day heralded the epic feat, quoting Middleton saying he’d finish it if it was the last thing he’d do. He was proclaimed a fair dinkum hero.

You could spend hours in this museum, both inside and out, where a replica town has been built, recalling life yesteryear.

Corryong is a place of historical significance, and it’s the volunteers who ensure you leave having gained great insight into their town.

For some exceptional natural vistas, take a drive up Mt Mittamatite, a winding 1 hr 30 for sixteen scenic kilometres. The ever-present morning fog which seems to last half a day suddenly drifts away into brilliant sunshine, and oh the spectacular views you’re rewarded with from Embery’s Lookout. Snowcapped peaks, lush green hills, rocky outcrops, the township far below, all stunning, and accessible if you love an adventure.

In the town itself, there are delightful cafes and eateries, a well-hidden chainsaw museum, an old curiosity shop, a secondhand bookstore reminiscent of the Neverending Story crammed to the ceiling with books almost spilling out into the arcade, a well-stocked and ambiently scented craft shop, of course, an eclectic opshop, and my favourite, a providore co-op once again run by volunteers, growing and then selling their own produce. I grabbed some sourdough, Brussels sprouts, garlic, and the freshest eggplant, all at a bargain price, and not a plastic bag to be seen.

Corryong proved to be an historically interesting, quite delightful place to spend a few days. It is a hub not only for skiers, but mountain bikers and hang gliders. At this wintery time of the year, there are less visitors, which makes exploring by road a lot more comfortable. Top tip: make sure you bring your warmest clothes. You will definitely need them.