End of the Murray River's long journey

Goolwa is at the mouth of the Murray River on Lake Alexandrina, 83 km south of Adelaide and 19 km from Victor Harbour. Like many river towns, Goolwa is today a tourist destination with a number of boats operating from its historic wharf. Goolwa offers a range of quality accommodation choices. With a unique blend of historic attractions, fine food restaurants and stunning scenery, Goolwa is an ideal holiday location.

Gateway to the internationally significant wetlands of the Coorong National Park and the mighty Murray River and lakes system, the river port of Goolwa is recognised as the nation’s small boat capital, and fittingly hosts the biennial Wooden Boat Festival.

It’s a town tailored for watersport worshippers. You can plot a voyage of discovery on your own vessel or aboard hirecraft which range from power boats to yachts and canoes. Charter craft also cruise the Lower Murray and the Coorong.

Attractions

• Signal Point River Murray Centre
• Artworx Gallery
• Goolwa Community Arts And Crafts
• Goolwa Golf Course
• Goolwa Wharf Markets
• Hutt River Internet Cafe
• Porter Steet Wildlife Gallery
• River Dolls Of Goolwa
• South Lakes Golf Club

History

The name Goolwa comes from an Aboriginal word said to mean '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.

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.

The Signal Point River Murray Interpretive Centre and its fleet of pensioned paddle steamers rekindle memories of the glory days of the river boats, while steam trains run between Goolwa, Port Elliott and Victor Harbour. You can also step back into town and transport history by hitching a ride round the Goolwa hot spots in Clydesdale-drawn covered wagons. Built around 1872, the village smithy has been converted into a museum where visitors can explore the history of Goolwa and neighbouring Hindmarsh Island and Currency Creek.

Goolwa represents the end of the line for the River Murray, the point at which the river meets the sea. The mouth of the Murray today, however, is now a small gap between the sand hills, a direct result of the numerous locks and weirs which control the water flow along its length.

In its heyday Goolwa was a thriving port which catered not only for riverboats but also for boats entering the river system from the ocean in the days when the mouth of the Murray was wide enough and deep enough to allow such passage. The Goolwa wharf, built in 1852 saw the town thrive for the next 40 years, making it one of Australia's major river ports. Sixty vessels were built at Goolwa up to 1913 including 37 paddle steamers.

The building of railway links to Morgan in 1878 and Murray Bridge in 1886 had a major impact on the river trade to Goolwa, as cargo was sent directly to Adelaide from these centres.

Seawater is prevented from entering Lake Alexandrina, Lake Albert and the River Murray by a barrage 632m long. Small craft enter through a lock. Goolwa still has it's past traditions of shipbuilding, trade and transport, but is now a growing tourist and holiday centre, and the paddle steamers on the river as a tourist attraction are a link with it's past.

Coorong (Down River) - Meningie (Up River)
Goolwa Barrages