In late January 1859 Captain Francis Cadell in charge of the "Albury" steamer entered the Darling River at its junction with the Murray and after eight days travel he reached the 'Mount Murchison' pastoral run (held by Hugh and Bushby Jamieson). Flour and other stores were delivered at the station and one hundred bales of wool were loaded for the return journey. Cadell’s pioneering journey was the beginning of steamer transportation on the Darling River (when river conditions allowed). The site of the future township developed as the location for the unloading and loading of river-borne cargo. The settlement was initially known as Mount Murchison, taking its name from the nearby pastoral run. As economic activity increased the location attracted business and trades providing services and amenities to the surrounding stations.