2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Mon, 1st Feb, 2016 Bolto Reserve, Mannum to Showgrounds RV Park, Murray Bridge, SA (exploring Murray Bridge)

23 degrees at 8am with puffy clouds in the blue sky. Waved bye to Dave and Lauris. Packed up then chatted with Wayne and Diane as they were heading off up the Murray.

Headed down the east side of the river – great view over the land from the crest of a hill. The river is over on the right as it does a big turn.

Another big bend in the river and cliffs near Burdett.

Into Murray Bridge, great view over the rail and road bridges across the flood plains and the Murray River.

Curved bridge and very narrow.

Stopped at the Info Centre and stocked up on maps etc. Down to the river at Sturt Reserve for a cuppa with our friends.

Further along was the Bunyip. Didn’t bring $1 to put in the machine to make the bunyip come out of the water!!

Great view up the river to the bridges and then downstream. Nearly to the end of our trip.

Back across the first bridge over the Murray River, 1879.

Into the showgrounds where there is a RV area ($5 per night unpowered). No more camping on the river’s edge.

Getting warmer, 33 degrees today. Had some lunch and headed off to explore with our walk/drive trail maps. Murray Bridge Speedway is below the showgrounds – Steve raced there in his Formula 500 many years ago. The bridge was the largest steel structure in Australia in 1879. It measures 1,980 feet in length. The original arches have been replaced with higher ones because of damage by heavy vehicle traffic. The railway used it too for 40 years. There were tollgates at each end to stop other traffic, which were mainly horses and carts in those day. A new rail bridge was built in 1925 after Murray Bridge township was gazetted in 1924.

Over the bridge and through town to Swanport Road then onto the A1. Across the Swanport Bridge. It was on the drive so I thought it was a ‘special’ bridge.

Drove up to Frank Jackman Lookout – not very nice with lots of graffiti and rubbish. Views over the river and bridge.

Down to Long Island Marina and caravan park – thought we could check out the boats but it is a closed access. Long Island is a long island in the middle of the Murray.

Passed the Anglican Cathedral of St John the Baptist, recognised as the smallest cathedral in the world.

Over the railway line to Melbourne laid in 1885.

Rocky Gully Wetlands.

Parked near the railway station and walked over the tunnel which was completed in 1923 which takes the trains down to the new railway bridge. Turned left over a small bridge which is over the old cutting where the trains previously ran between 1886 and 1925 to cross the first bridge (which we drove on). Short walk up to the ‘Roundhouse’ which was built in 1874 for the Overseer of the bridge works. It was the first stone building in the area. Not looking to round from here.

Walked around to check it out and the views over the river and the bridge.

Down through the lovely garden. Sort of looks round from here.

Walked down the hillside to the river’s edge and the old railway lines which went around to the wharf. During 1910 over 35,000 tons of freight was trans-shipped across the wharf between railway and boats. On occasion freight transfer resulted in 16 trams leaving Murray Bridge in the one day. The 1956 flood level is marked on the railway bridge.

Along the walk are signs stating the names of the 29 paddle-steamers and barges wrecked and sunken along here.

The old Pumphouse, 1897, from where the town water supply was pumped until 1960.

Railway yards and the 1886 wharf. Now the paddleboat “Proud” calls it home. Originally it was called the Port of Mobilong and was declared in July 1886. It became one of the three largest ports in the Murray Darling Basin along with Morgan and Echuca, leading to the demise of Mannum and Goolwa as major river ports. The total length of the 2 level timber wharf was 620 feet along with a further 450 feet of sheet piling face to the bank at deck level totalling over 1070 feet, all serviced by two railway lines along the entire length. More than 6 cranes were used at the wharf for the transfer of freight. Around 1919 to 1940 milk boats were used from the dairies for delivery to the milk factory which was just downstream from the wharf, a use believed to be unique to Murray Bridge. The depth of the river varies from 25 feet to 60 feet.

Back up the hillside through beautiful scented roses.

Murray Bridge freestone – quarried on the eastern side of the river along the cliff face and the Sunnyside Quarry from the 1880s. Due to weathering these retaining stones display a honeycomb appearance.