The roach, Rutilus rutilus, endemic to large portions of Europe, was introduced to Australia in 1861. Because of a lack of ecological knowledge of populations in Australia, life-history aspects of specimens collected in 2000 and 2001 from Lake Eildon were investigated. Fish ranged in length (LF) from 83 to 240 mm, in weight from 63 to 187 g and in age from 1.1 to 8.6 years. Parameters of growth for male R. rutilus were L∞ = 209 and t0 = –2.2 (n = 62), for female R. rutilus L∞ = 211 and t0 = –0.8 (n = 147), and for all aged individuals L∞ = 203 and t0 = –1.6 (n = 380). Mean size and age at sexual maturity (Lm50) was 161 mm and 3.6 years for males and 156 mm and 3.3 years for females. Latitudinal variation in environmental conditions, especially temperature, is suggested to be largely responsible for inter-population differences of growth and condition described in the present study.