Victorian floods: Murchison littered with sandbag mountains while Mitchelton Winery reopens

It’s a month since the October floods smashed large parts of Victoria — and for many people, reminders of that disaster are all too present.

Mountains of mouldy sandbags remain in the main street of one of the hardest-hit towns in the devastating Victorian floods.

From the Caledonian Hotel down to the newsagent and service station along Murchison’s Main St, the remains of the Great Wall of Murchison are festering in the warmer weather.

They are a stark — and damp — reminder from when the Goulburn River reached heights of more than 12m during the first wave of the floods that went on to smash towns such as Shepparton, Mooroopna, Rochester and Echuca.

Ominously, piles of sand remain at the sandbagging station outside the CFA in case flood waters return.

A month ago, Adam McLarty was standing in ankle-deep water in his house as the flood crisis hit much of central and northern Victoria

Now his family are preparing to move into a new place in town

“We’ve stripped the house out completely, all the plaster is gone, the carpet is gone, kitchen and bathroom is gone,” he said.

“We’re slowly making progress but still living in a camper out the front.

“There’s only like three houses available in Murchison at the moment and we’ve managed to get one so we’re pretty lucky.”

There have also been reports of looters pilfering clothing and items from the piles of belongings left outside people’s homes.

“Some people have been really, really good and some people are being shit,” he said.

“This sort of stuff brings out the best and worst in people.”

The award-winning Mitchelton Winery which was battered by the floods has recovered thanks to local tradies.

While work is still ongoing on the Mitchelton Gallery of Indigenous Art and underground cellar — both suffered extensive flood damage — the Mitchelton Hotel, Muse restaurant, the day spa and cellar door have all returned to public use while the winery is again hosting weddings.