20230508 SA Goolwa

We arrived into Goolwa, a lovely clean town near the mouth of the Murray River, meaning 'elbow', describing the shape of the bend in the river around Hindmarsh Island - or 'yesterday'. Sealers from Kangaroo Island were probably the first Europeans to visit Goolwa, possibly as early as 1828. After we found a park, we walked to town and found a Baker were Des brought us a dirty pie and a coffee shop, that’s it for me, no more pie’s until we’re back in Queensland, they are just awful.

I have just found out that the movie Storm Boy was filmed right here in Goolwa, Port Elliot and the Coorong National Park.

Australia's first public railway horse drawn, was opened in 1854 to connect with the Murray steamboat system, thus connecting river traffic at Goolwa with the ocean port of Port Elliot. This was Australia's first example of an integrated transport system.

Paddle Steamer
The PS Oscar W is a steam driven wood fired authentic working paddle steamer built at Echuca, Victoria in 1908. Now located at the the historic Goolwa Wharf Precinct, Goolwa, South Australia.

Hindmarsh Bridge
There was much controversy with the aborigines over the proposed bridge claiming the site was Sacred to them for reasons they could not revealed. It was found that "secret women's business" had been fabricated, which allowed construction to go ahead. The bridge was completed in March 2001.

Des takes a nice strolls along the Wharf while sneak a quite pic.

It is 72’ in length, and 17’ in breadth, with a red gum bottom and iron top sides, it was built as a floating work platform and used as a pile-driving vessel on the construction of the weirs and locks, and later other works along the river. The pile driver was steam powered using a vertical boiler.

After walking along the wharf we decided to head back to the van and drive over the Hindmarsh Bridge to check out Hindmarsh Island.

So here we are at the Mouth of the Murray were Mulloway have disappeared due to the high waters coming through the Mouth, but dredging fend off sand and silt from closing the River that commenced in 2015.

Fish and Chips anyone, but I’m warning you they are not cheap.

A photo of the view in the opposite direction of the rivers mouth.

We were tempted to camp on the Island but with no free camping here and you can be sure to get a hefty fine if caught so after lunch we head back to the main land to camp at the Showgrounds, but be sure to leave at 10am or you will be whipped, well that’s how it felt.


By from Goolwa 


 
Location: Goolwa SA 5214, Australia

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