KERANG Kerang is the next town encountered when traveling westwards towards Mildura. On the banks of the Loddon River determines the levy systems designed to protect the town are from time to time tested. That said this is another nice town and deserves a stopover. Clearly heritage management is at work in Kerang. Kerang's symbol is a flying ibis. The area around Kerang is dotted with lagoons and lakes and is believed to have the most populous ibis rookeries in the world with an estimated 200,000 ibis using the area for breeding each year, along with many other water birds. It is also a popular recreational destination. The first European to visit the area, in 1836. Squatters began to settle in the area in 1845 and in 1848 Richard Beyes opened a public house at a river crossing near the future townsite. The Burke and Wills expedition passed through Kerang on their journey to cross Australia from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. On Tuesday, 4 September 1860 they passed through Kerang, crossed the Loddon and camped at Mr. Fenton's Reedy Creek Run, making Camp XIII, (their thirteenth camp since leaving Melbourne). Kerang has a number of really great churches. The United Church being the oldest and past its century anniversary The hotels in Kerang are the old style Victorian Pubs that have survived ‘progress’. Be sure to check out the “play it again” charactertures. The Kerang Museum is near the caravan park by the Loddon River. The War Memorial is represented by a cenotaph and buildings in the cbd. Also, check out the memorial to the school teacher, Karlie McDonald. Very humbling. Kerang is a nice town and region and deserves a min of a stopover when doing ‘the Murray’ trip. Heritage diary