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Murray
River Towns WAIKERIE See also Riverland |
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General Information Waikerie is situated on the banks of the beautiful River Murray, a mere 175 kms from Adelaide. Waikerie was first settled in 1894, and consists of well over 5,000 hectares of agricultural, horticultural and viticultural developments – plus excellent conservation, parklands and wetlands. The name Waikerie is said to mean “many wings”, after the giant swift moth “wei kari”, the name given by the original indigenous community. It’s an appropriate name, considering the teeming birds of the lagoons and wetlands that edge the river. Waikerie was established in 1894 when its first settlers arrived by paddle- steamer. The farming community they founded is now surrounded by over a million fruit trees, and the town is truly the centre of citrus and fruit industry in South Australia. Here, you’ll find one of the longest stretches of accessible riverbank and the width of the river makes it popular for water sports and fishing, and suitable for houseboats. The town is also justly proud of its 18-hole, bunkerless golf course. The town’s Santa’s Cave at Christmas time is especially fun for families. Things to do and seeGliding Ride the Ferry Clifftop Walk Locally Made Behind the Rainmoth Gallery (a local artists’ and craft workers’ outlet) are the beginnings of the new Interpretive Park – an opportunity for the kids to interact with the science of irrigation. Fauna Park Murray River Queen Camel and Boat Safaris Bird-watching at
Gluepot Reserve Town Lookout and Rotary Cliff-Top Walk Town Lookout and Rotary Cliff-Top Walk This stretches Eastwards from the Waikerie Ferry through the Pumping Station grounds to the lookout and then along the picturesque cliff top. There are excellent views and don’t forget to take your camera. Waikerie and District Machinery Preservation Society Museum History The first white person to venture through this area was Captain Charles Sturt in 1829. He travelled through Sydney Town down the length of the Murray in a whaleboat and then retraced his trail back up the river as there was no settlement of S.A. then. From 1838 to about 18660 many mobs of sheep and cattle were overlanded from the Eastern settlements to supply meat and stock for the new Adelaide Town and growing population of S.A. Mostly these animals were herded along the northern banks of the Murray following the river round were Morgan is today and then branching off towards the hills. Aborigines who lived along the river then were of the Ngawait tribe. The river and surrounding land provided everything they could possibly need. There were fish, shellfish, birds of all kinds, kangaroos, native fruits and seasonal delights such as the "Waikerie" grub and moth. The Giant Swift Moth (Trictenna Argentata) now known locally as the Rain Moth, because of its habit of emerging from its cocoon in the earth following late autumn rains, was called "Waikerie" by the Aborigines who dug them from the ground or caught the emerged moth as it flew around their camp fires at night. From about 1956 for 60 odd years Paddle steamers turned the river into a busy highway as they carried passengers and goods to inland centres and produce, wheat and wool away to Morgan or Goolwa and overseas markets. In 1894 eleven Village Settlements were begun on the river in S.A. Enormous hardships faced these pioneers (some of which have been documented in Jean Nunn's "History of Waikerie" available from the District Council office). For the Village Settlements of Ramco, Waikerie and Holder the boats traveling along the river were their lifeline to outside civilization. No roads came near the settlements then. During emergencies if the river was too low for boats to run, someone had to walk north to the Morgan, Wentworth road and stop the passing coach. From the town's lookout you can see towards the west orchards which were amongst the first planted by Village Settlers. The all electric Pumping Station at the foot of the cliff was built in 1965 to replace diesel pumping units which had in their time replaced the earlier steam engine and pump. Waikerie is the only village settlement on the river to emerge as a major town with its own hospital and schools. Today the district of Waikerie covers an area of approximately three thousand square kilometres. Approximately five thousand hectares are irrigated producing wine grapes, citrus, almonds, fresh and dried stone fruits, tomatoes, rockmelons, vegetables, avocados, olives, persimmons etc. In 1960 and 1961 the Waikerie Irrigation Lands Extension Committee working as a non profit company developed from what was farming land and virgin scrub, irrigation land (to the south and to the northwest of Ramco) now called Golden Heights and Sunlands. Many hundreds of acres are now in production with fine homes and
good roads. Waikerie SA 5330 See extended or more on-line clips at the Video Shop Local Attractions, Accommodation or Touring
HOUSEBOATS TOURS AND
ATTRACTIONS
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WAIKERIE
