Thurs, 4th Feb, 2016 Showgrounds RV Park, Murray Bridge, SA (Murray mouth & Goolwa area, Barrage & Lock)

7am 21 degrees, sun out but dark clouds looming over Murray Bridge. Jumpers on as it is only going to get to 25 today and the wind is still strong and biting.

Grabbed by bottle with our water and rock from the source of the Murray River. The SA Information booklets have great maps.

Headed down the Princes Highway to Tailem Bend. In the 19^th century Tailem Bend was an important railway town. Stopped at the railway station to check out the museum.

Lots of photos and information.

Steve changing the lines in the Signal Station.

Great collection of old phones – remember the first mobiles phones!!

Outside Miss Piggy was mowing the lawn.

In the park was an old locomotive used from 1913 to 1965.

Over to the cliff top heading down to the ferry. Great view over the Murray to the river flats and Jervois (another wineglass reservoir).

The sun came out when I wanted to photograph the sign, hence the side angle. Lots of ‘milk boats’ were on the Murray because of all the dairy farms in the area.

View upstream, over the ferry crossing.

Down to the ferry but turned left and went down to the old ferry landing (constructed in 1924, last Government timber one built and used till 1960s) and had a cuppa.

Lined up for the ferry but had to wait while the ferry operator banged his sledge hammer on the metal to scare the hundreds of corellas out of the trees next to the ferry. They didn’t go far – across the river to the tree on the other side!!  Looking back at the old ferry landing then downstream to the cliffs.

The corellas are stripping all the trees.

Through Jervois and passed lots of small dairy farms – smelly!! The paddocks have a levee bank around them.

Into Wellington where another ferry operates. The old court house and police station. Wellington was settled in 1846 and was the only point where travellers could cross the river for many years.

We headed west away from the river and around the top of Lake Alexandrina which the Murray flows into as it heads to the mouth. Turned off that road and headed south till we ran into the Lake Alexandrina (649 square kilometres). It was named after Princess Alexandrina, niece and successor of King William IV of Great Britain. We are now at sea level. Point Sturt and Point McLeay in the distance. Very choppy today.

Around the edge of the Lake to Milang passed lots of wineries. Crossed over the Bremer then Angas Rivers which also flow into Lake Alexandrina adding to the Murray waters. Milang was the largest inland port in South Australia in the late 19^th century and a major transport hub for Melbourne. Stopped at a park where Landseer’s boat building sheds and dry docks was operating in from 1860 to 1900. He also had the big wool shed in Morgan where the Museum is now located.

Walked out onto the old jetty (built in 1856) – the guys had caught a couple of carp. The wind feels like it is from Antarctica!! The jetty had been extended a few times due to low water, but shortened in 1958. The hand crane was placed on the jetty in 1872.

Lots of fishing shacks line the foreshore.

Back in the park was a plaque about the P.S. Etona that was a church boat.

Another plaque about Captain Sturt and one about the ‘Source to Sea’ riverboat voyage in 2001 that I watched at the Museum in Mannum.

Through the little township to the historic railway station, unfortunately only open on Sundays by the volunteers who have put a lot of work into restoring the site and displays. Original terminus Sandergrove – Milang Railway, 17 Dec 1884 to 17 June 1970.

Continued along the Lake’s edge passed Olive groves, vineyards and alpacas to Clayton Bay. Nice holiday area.

Drove around to the jetty and found the info board.

I walked up to the top of the cliff for a look.

North-west up through the narrow area to where the Finniss River flows in (to right) and where the Murray goes around Hindmarsh Island (to left) and heads to the mouth.

Looking across to Hindmarsh Island then down south-east past Goose & Goat Islands to Rat Island.

View from the jetty to the cliff.

Back on the road heading up along the edge of the estuary to across the Finniss River (not very big and full of reeds) to stop for a photo of a canoe tree. When we came down to the mouth in 2008 with Margaret & Gary, we stopped and took a photo of one. Looking back at the old photos it was the next one we stopped at.

Into Goolwa and around to the Information Centre in the old Post Office. Checked on low tide – it was at 11.30am, now 12.30pm. Found a couple of info boards too.

Drove down to Goolwa Beach where the surfers were making the most of the strong wind. We ate our lunch in the truck as it was too cold to be out!! The surf clubhouse had a nice mural.

A few groups came up from the beach with their buckets of Pipis (cockles). Gary took Jon and Hayden cockling when we came down – found those photos – the boys froze in the water.

Maps of the area.

Steve let air out of the tyres and put it in 4WD and off we headed down to Goolwa Beach.

All good as we zoomed along Sir Richard Peninsula. The wind was blowing the sea water further up the beach.

Nearly to the mouth and we had to detour around an excavator that was moving the sand being pumped out of the mouth.

Steve let out some more air!! Looking back to where we came up off the beach.

Back down onto the beach and the waves are rolling into the mouth at Pullen Spit.

Pulled up in the middle with the sand dredge on one side and the ocean on the other.

Two NZ fur seals swam by heading out to sea – the Info Centre lady said they were at the Barrage.

Got out my water from the source and tipped it into the mouth – well as close as I could get as the waves kept coming in to get us!!

Decided to keep some and the rock and add a rock and some shells from the mouth to it.

Steve will have to wash the truck again – he only did it yesterday!!

Turned into a lovely day though the wind is freezing. We made it – has been a wonderful trip. Sad that it is over but looking forward to the next adventure.

Steve was freezing back in 2008 too.

Headed back – some crazy fishermen.

The birds like sitting in the vehicle tracks.

Passed a few more vehicles heading down the beach.

Back to the track entrance. Drove down to the servo to pump the tyres back up.

Back along the foreshore – nice tree carving done by a couple of local council workers, voluntarily taking 120 hours in 2015.

Down to the Goolwa Barrage and Lock - long one.

Through the pine trees and passed the workers houses to the info shelter.

Bit hard to photograph with the glare.

Through the gate and onto the Goolwa Barrage.

Lots of black swans.

At the lock we spotted a fur seal just heading into the water on the other side of the lock. Others were snoozing away on the ledges on the other side.

Lock users notice and another about the dredging.

Upstream – Murray fresh water and downstream – Southern Ocean salt water.

Another seal was perched on the edge of the lock and was wiggling around, either having a nightmare or scratching his back. Took a video as I thought he might fall off.

Lots of Murray water seeping out into the saltwater.

Watched the pelican and the silver gull catching fish.

Across the lock is half of the turntable. Long way across – no access for us but plenty of room for the birds.

Looking back on Mr Seal – still snoozing.

Engineering plaque.

Some of the stop gates – lots of barnacles etc on the seaward side.

Lovely little flowers.

Further along towards to the mouth was a boat ramp. Sign about the sand pumping project. Interesting Quick Facts.

The Coorong National Park starts on the saltwater side of the barrage and runs for miles along the coast of the Younghusband Peninsula.

Back to Goolwa along the edge of the ‘Murray’ to cross over the bridge onto Hindmarsh Island.

Top view upstream and downstream to the pine trees near the barrage.

The main street of Goolwa is Cadell and on Hindmarsh Island it is Randell – the two Murray river captains. We have seen so many different types of ‘poo’ for sale but this takes the cake!!

Turned south to Sugars Beach to look across to the Murray Mouth and the dredge.

Another board about the dredging. Great photo of the Murray Mouth when it had closed in 1981 and open again.

A cruise boat heads out to the mouth – I think this is what Erica and Terry went on last year.

Scanning from the barrage side across the mouth to The Coorong.

Someone has a great spot for a weekender straight across from the mouth.

Two more info boards.

Back to the main road and down to a huge monument to Captain Sturt and his men, erected in 1930 on the highest point of the island.

View across the Goolwa Channel to the Southern Ocean.

Back up the Channel to the Goolwa Barrage.

Then the other direction over Hindmarsh Island and the River Murray.

Drove around to the north-eastern end of the island where there are heaps of holiday homes and little channels to moor their boats in.

Back to the main road – one side cattle and the other the entrance to a big marina estate.

Had a drive around checking out how the poor people live!!

Stopped at the Hindmarsh Island Info shelter. The island is approximately 15km long and 6km wide. It is unique as it faces fresh water on one side and salt water on the other. Named after the first South Australian Governor, Captain John Hindmarsh, the island has been utilised for agricultural and pastoral activities since the 1840s when it was first leased as grazing land. The first Shropshire sheep stud (1852) and the first Hereford cattle (1868) were introduced to Australia here. A ferry for public use was in operation from 1858. Initially a dingy then a council operated unit from 1862.

Back across the bridge.

Looking down on the wharf and rail area.

Stopped to check out another couple of history boards.

Down to the wharf and railway area. The tree was planted to commemorate the achievement of Tammy Van Wisse in swimming the length of the River Murray arriving at Goolwa on Sunday, 18^th February, 2001.

The paddle-steamer Oscar W was built in 1908.

The wreck of P.S. Renmark is near the wharf.

The Barge Dart was built near here in 1912.

Great treehouse playground and comfy chair.

This must be the last of the River Boat Trail boards.

Great aerial photo of Goolwa to Murray Mouth in August 2002.

Back to the railway station which was originally further in town. There are a few tourist train rides from here, like the Cockle Train.

A few older buildings.

Headed home. Through Currency Creek – lovely old building.

Turned off near the canoe tree to short cut near Finniss to Milang, missing the big loop down to Clayton Bay. Back up to the main road and turned north near Boggy Lake to short cut back to Murray Bridge rather than going up through Wellington and Tailem Bend. Saw some Cape Barren geese in the paddock.

Further along passed the Australian Saltworks.

Ended up a lovely day with clear blue skies but the wind was strong and cold. A few more people have arrived.

Van closed up to keep out the cold wind!!