PORT OF SALE HERITAGE CRUISES
Drift back into a different time, when our waterways were our highways...
WHAT YOU WILL SEE
Port of Sale
An element of “A transport scheme of national importance” completed in 1890, comprising of the Sale Canal and Swing Basin, Swing Bridge over the Latrobe River and the Permanent Entrance at Cunninghame now Lakes Entrance, a distance of 105km, enabling coastal freighters of 200ton and 12feet draft access to the Bass Strait and the Gippsland Gold Fields
The Importance of Sale in Colonial Times
For many years there was no access to Melbourne due to extensive swamps and rough terrain. The only way into Gippsland by land was via Omeo. Early squatters droving sheep, cattle and horses to the prime pastures of Gippsland and were exporting out of Port Albert (Wool to London, Cattle to penal colony in Hobart and Horses to the British Army in India). Sale’s existence is due to it being located on the highest land adjoining the shortest distance across the flood plain of the Latrobe, Thomson and McAllister Rivers which converge at Sale. With the discovery of gold Sale was the key entry point to the Gippsland Gold fields.
Swing Bridge
Completed 1883, designed by John Grainger (Father of Percy Grainger) English trained Engineer Architect. The Bridge is the oldest swing bridge in Australia and the longest swing bridge in the world designed to operate manually by on person. The Bridge opens every Saturday and Sunday at 3pm and on the 2nd Wednesday of month at 11am. Our trips coincide with these openings.
TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME
Learn about the history of the first European settlers and the local Gunnai Kurnai people. Click on our virtual tour to get a taste of what a trip on the Rubeena is like.
Along the Banks
Ancient river redgums line the banks of the Thomson and Latrobe Rivers, many of which have scars where the Gunnaikurnai cut out the outer skin to make their canoes and other implements, evidence, of their occupation and management of this land for 30,000 years prior to European settlement.
Where you find water, you find birds and animals, and keen eyes will spot Whistling Kites, Nankeen Night Herron’s, Azure Kingfisher’s, Australian Darter, and many more. Koalas, Eastern Water Dragons and Swamp Wallabies are among the myriad of different species that can be seen along the Rubeena’s route.
