King River (Victoria)

King River from the power of Lookout

Template: Infobox River / Obsolete

The King River is a river in the northeast of the Australian state of Victoria. It is a tributary of the Ovens River, rises on the western slopes of the Australian Alps and flows near Wangaratta in the Ovens River. The valley of the River King has a mild climate that allows for viticulture. The river is popular with kayakers. Its rapids are classified as Level 2, or Level 3. In 2008, the Victorian Downriver Championship and the Australian Downriver Championship were held there.

History of the King Valley

The Valley of the King River can be seen as " Little Italy" in the hills of north-eastern Victoria, describe south of Wangaratta. Its history includes the footpads as well as the Chinese and Italian immigrants.

The Chinese arrived in the mid 19th century to search for gold, and brought their traditions of allotment gardeners, growers and merchants with. The roads in the valley are named after well-known Chinese families, as Mahlook, Honey or Fosang today.

The Italian immigrants arrived in the 1940s and 1950s and was followed by the Chinese initially in the tobacco cultivation. But soon they realized that the area had a significant potential for growing European varietals. Especially in recent years, the King Valley has achieved an outstanding reputation as a wine region, eg for grape varieties such as Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Barbera. Now have names, such as Pizzini, Dal Zatto, Corsini, Sartori, Ciccone and Poltini in the area. The growing area is considered to be highest vineyard in Australia.

Whitfield and Moyhu are the largest settlements in the valley and are on the road from Wangaratta to Mansfield.