Beers and bangers help pass the time as Echuca waits for flood waters to peak

With nothing to do except wait for the Murray River to reach its flood peak, the residents of Echuca set about letting off steam on Saturday night.

Crowds gathered on the banks to compare how much the river had swelled from the morning. Kids swam in motel pools, cooling off from the heat. The Caledonian hotel – known as The Cal – one of the historic town’s much-loved pubs, was packed.