The lovely Victorian town of Echuca was once Australia's largest inland port, serviced by fleets of paddle steamers plying the mighty Murray River.

Wool, wheat, other grains, livestock, and timber from Australia’s inland were unloaded from the majestic vessels on the 332-metre long redgum Echuca Wharf for overland transport to Melbourne, 200 kilometres to the south.

The wharf is now listed as a Heritage Place on the Australian National Heritage List and while the paddle steamers have gone into the pages of history as vital cargo vessels, Echuca remains a beautiful historical town and tourist drawcard.

The Paddlewheel Motel on Echuca’s High Street is one of the town’s most popular places to stay and Dan McDonald from McDonald Hospitality is marketing the leasehold through expressions of interest.

Image Supplied - McDonald Hospitality Brokers

It is a rare property that includes a wonderful penthouse.

Mr McDonald said: “The Paddlewheel Motel is a 31-room leasehold motel in the heart of regional tourism city of Echuca.

“This business is a proven performer, with excellent lease terms and year on year profitability, which in a tightly held market, is an extremely rare and a simply outstanding business opportunity.

“Presenting on the market for the first time in 15 years, the sheer magnitude of interest we have received since listing the Paddlewheel Motel Echuca is an extremely strong representation of how strong buyer demand for motels, like The Paddlewheel is in the current motel marketplace.”

Key features of the property include the long lease – 25 years with great rent and terms – and the consistent high performance revenue well in excess of $800K over the last two years.

It has an unbeatable location in the centre of Echuca and is within walking distance to all of the town’s many attractions.

The strong business model shows an after-rent profit of approximately $400K.

Mr McDonald says the Paddlewheel also has “perhaps the best family residence we have ever seen.”

The name “Echuca” comes from the Yorta Yorta word meaning “meeting of the waters” and it lies on the banks of the Murray and Campaspe Rivers.

The border town of Moama is adjacent on the northern side of the Murray River in New South Wales.

Present-day Echuca was founded by one of the most resourceful figures of early colonial times, an ex-convict named Henry Hopwood. In 1850 he purchased a small punt to ferry people and goods across the Murray River near the Campaspe junction, and he soon built hotels, bridges and shops. The small settlement known as Hopwood's Ferry grew to become the town of Echuca.

Paddle steamers still draw tourists to the area.

They depart for cruises near the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre, which has exhibits on the 19th-century river trade, plus part of the original Echuca Wharf.

The Echuca Historical Society Museum is a popular location dedicated to the area’s rich and fascinating local history.