Cohuna Attractions

Kow Swamp

Name (Ghow) derived from language of Aborigines, meaning white gypsum soil (found in the area).
Kow Swamp is now a permanent water body 15 kilometres in circumference with an average depth of 3 metres and is used as a water storage for irrigation. Originally a low lying swamp it was filled when the Murray was in flood or running a high river. A smaller amount of water came via the Bendigo creek.

It is still supplied with water from the Murray River via the Gunbower and Taylors Creeks on the east, diverted there by Torrumbarry Weir. At the south end of the swamp the Mt Hope Creek (Bendigo Creek) enters.
Outlets at the north end are Box (Pyramid) Creek and the Macorna Channel. The Macorna Channel is supplemented by the supply from the Contour channel (built in the 1890’s) originating at Taylors Creek. The Macorna Channel supplies water to the irrigation districts further north-west towards Kerang and the township of Kerang as well as the lakes system near Kerang. To do this two ‘flumes’ carry the water of the Macorna Channel over the Pyramid creek and the Loddon river

Pumping water from the Murray to Kow Swamp and then further north, started in the 1880’s.
Henry Hawken an early irrigator, started pumping with a steam driven pump on the west side of Kow Swamp in 1883 and watered about 2000 acres. The Victorian government became interested in the scheme and in 1886 the Minister of Water Supply and future Prime Minster Alfred Deakin inspected the site in one of his tours of the district.

Kow swamp is the largest permanent wetland adjacent to the Murray in the Victorian Riverina and is a designated wildlife sanctuary because of its size, habitat diversity, and breeding opportunities. This allows water birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects to live and breed. The reedy surrounds allow insects to develop, an essential part of the food chain. Twenty seven notable waterbird species have been identified including all types of ducks, waterfowl, pelicans, sea eagles, gulls and kingfishers.

There is evidence of the Aborigines occupying the area with canoe trees and middens being identified. The most notable evidence is the discovery in1925, on the west side of the swamp, of the Cohuna Cranium by a local earthmoving contactor. The editor of the Cohuna Farmers Weekly notified authorities and the significance of the discovery was realised. Further archaeological digs took place between 1968 and 1972 by the Australian National University of Canberra where the skull was kept. Further remains were uncovered and studied. These discoveries were important in establishing the diversity of Aboriginal genetic history and that there were different waves of immigrants to Australia before European discovery. The remains have now been re-interred in keeping with the wishes of the Aborigine people. Its was also recorded by the early settlers that there was a ceremonial area for Aborigines on the north side of the swamp

From the time of the first Europeans, Kow swamp was the locality of many social activities. Before World War 1 the surrounding area had a School (started in 1891) a Post Office, Football and Netball teams and even the Kow Swamp Lyric Orchestra. The shores of the swamp were used for picnics and fundraising activities with sports, swimming and fishing. Before the days of municipal swimming pools the waters of the swamp were lined with locals cooling off from the summer heat. These days the swamp is mainly used for fishing and boating.