Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
by travellers.
For more local info and tips on places to stay, contact
Naracoorte Visitor Information
Centre
(
08-8762 1399;
www.naracoortelucindale.com
;
36 MacDonnell St;
9am-5pm Mon-
Fri, 10am-4pm Sat & Sun)
in Naracoorte.
MURRAY RIVER
On the lowest gradient of any Australian river, the slow-flowing Murray hooks through
650 South Australian kilometres. Tamed by weirs and locks, the Murray irrigates the
fruit trees and vines of the sandy Riverland district to the north, and winds through the
dairy country of the Murraylands district to the south. Raucous flocks of white corellas
and pink galahs launch from cliffs and river red gums and dart across lush vineyards and
orchards.
Prior to European colonisation, the Murray was home to Meru communities. Then
came shallow-draught paddle steamers, carry- ing wool, wheat and supplies from Murray
Bridge as far as central Queensland along the Darling River. With the advent of railways,
river transport declined. These days, waterskiers, jet skis and houseboats crowd out the
river, especially during summer. If your concept of riverine serenity doesn't include the
roar of V8 inboards, then avoid the major towns and caravan parks during holidays and
weekends.
Online, see
www.themurrayriver.com
.
ROLLIN' ON THE RIVER
Until 2011, Old Man Murray was in dire straits, degraded by drought, salinisation,
evaporation, upstream irrigation and the demands of servicing SA's domestic wa-
ter requirements. Ecosystems were awry and many farmers faced bankruptcy. De-
bate raged over solutions: federal control of the Murray-Darling Basin? Stiffer
quotas for upstream irrigators? A weir at Wellington? Opening the Goolwa barrages
and letting salt water flood the lower lakes? Things were grim.
In 2011 the drought broke: flooding upstream in Queensland, New South Wales
and Victoria and rains delivered by Tropical Cyclone Yasi got things flowing, purging
the backlog of silt and salt, and filling wetlands with life. But what about the future?
See
www.savethemurray.com
for the latest ideas on how to keep Old Man Murray
a-flowin'.
