The Railway Station at Murray Bridge

Murray Bridge
Large rural service centre on the Murray River
Located 78 km from Adelaide, Murray Bridge is the major centre on the Murray River north of Lake Alexandra. It is a large town of 17,000 people and is 26 metres above sea level. It is a typical sprawling rural centre with a grain silo on the skyline and vegetable gardens, hothouses and light industry surrounding the town centre.

Prior to European settlement the area was inhabited by the Ngarrindjeri Aborigines. The river provided abundant food and they lived well off a diet of kangaroos, emus, wombats, goannas, lizards, ducks, turtles, fish, snakes and bird eggs.

The first European into the area was Captain Charles Sturt who, being assigned to solve the great mystery of why so many rivers flowed westward from the Great Dividing Range (often known as the question of whether Australia had an 'inland sea') rowed a whale boat down the Murrumbidgee in late 1829 and reached the junction with the Murray River on 14 January 1830. He continued down Australia's largest river passing Murray Bridge in early February and reaching Lake Alexandrina, at the mouth of the river, on 9 February, 1830.

From this point onwards there was always the thought that the Murray River could be used for transportation and access to the western areas of New South Wales and Queensland. However it wasn't until the formal establishment of Goolwa as the port at the mouth of the Murray in the 1850s that this became a reality.

Murray Bridge was established when a road bridge over the Murray River (which is how the town got its name) was completed in 1879. It was followed in 1886 by the Adelaide-Melbourne railway line which guaranteed that the town's importance as a vital link across the river was assured.

The town was laid out in 1883 and was called Mobilong. The land was sold in Adelaide in 1884 under the advertisement 'Murray traders, woolwashers, builders and all men of enterprise. Give heed to what is now offered to you.' Later it was called Edwards Crossing but it became Murray Bridge when a new railway bridge was constructed across the river in 1924.

The town's most recent Swanport Bridge, which was built five kilometres downstream from Murray Bridge, was completed in 1979.

Today the town is the centre of a major agricultural district which is driven by dairying, chicken raising, pig breeding, tomato and snow pea growing.

Things to see:  

The Murray Bridge Hotel

Let's Walk Around Murray Bridge
There is a simple printed pamphlet which sensibly starts at the Tourist Information Office on South Terrace and does a circuit around the centre of town which includes Edwards Square (with the Lyric Theatre facade), Diamond Park (named to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1879), the St John the Baptist Pro-Cathedral (the smallest cathedral in Australia), the World War II Memorial Playground, the Community Mural in Third Street, the old Limestone Homes (1893), the Railway Station (1886), the local Post Office, the railway tunnel, the Roundhouse (1874), the National Trust 700 metre iron bridge (1873-79), the Old Pump House (1897), Bridgeport Hotel (1884), Town Hall (1910), Bells Store (1884), Ruges Arcade (1920s) and the new Mobilong House. The pamphlet provides detailed information. It also reveals that many of the town's buildings are recent and there are few reminders of the early history.

Dundee's Wildlife
Located on the South Eastern Freeway the complex offers a children's zoo, a reptile house and a walk through aviary. The highlight of the complex is the tropical crocodile display which includes feeding at 2.00 p.m. Dundee's Wildlife also includes a bird and nocturnal animal sanctuary. It is open 7 days a week. For more details contact (08) 8532 3666.

The Captain's Cottage Museum
Located on Thomas St (south of the main highway through town) this cottage was built for Captain Johnson in 1890. It has been carefully restored and features interesting displays of memorabilia, photos and machinery from the local area. It is open Weekends and Public Holidays 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. More details are available from (08) 8531 0049.

Giraffes at Monarto Zoological Park

Monarto Zoological Park
Located north-west of Murray Bridge on the Princes Hwy this 1000 hectare zoo utilises the local grassland and mallee scrub and has herds of bison, ostrich, eland, zebra, deer, giraffe, wild horses and blackbucks roaming free. It is open 7 days a week. For more details contact (08) 8534 4100.

Puzzle Park
A large Puzzle Park, including a 4 km maze, which is located off South Eastern Freeway. It is open 7 days a week from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (08) 8532 3709

Paddlesteamers
The M.V. Proud Mary offers a variety of cruises ranging from morning tea cruises to 2 and 5 day journeys up the Murray River. For more information contact (08) 8231 9472. The P. S. Captain Proud offers a fully licensed restaurant offering lunch and evening cruises. It is a modern boat built in 1985. For more information contact (08) 8532 6642. The M.V. Barrangul offers 2 hour cruises ranging from 'BYO' to full buffet. Contact 018 804 256 for more details.

	Tourist Information
	Murray Bridge Visitor Information Centre 3 South Tce Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8539 1142 Facsimile: (08) 8532 5288
	Motels
	Central Olympic Motel 34 Standen St Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: 1800 088 322 Facsimile: (08) 8532 4194 Rating: **1/2
	Murray Bridge Motor Inn 174 Princes Hwy Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 1090 Facsimile: (08) 8531 0313 Rating: ***
	Murray Bridge Motor Lodge 212 Adelaide Rd Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 1144 Facsimile: (08) 8531 0313 Rating: ***1/2
	Oval Motel 4 Le Messurier St Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2388, 1800 641 689 Facsimile: (08) 8531 1101 Rating: ***
	Hotels
	Bridgeport Hotel Bridge St Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2002 Rating: **
	Murray Bridge Hotel Sixth St Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2024 Facsimile: (08) 8531 0521 Rating: **
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Balcony Guesthouse 6 Sixth St P.O. Box 1351 Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8531 1411 Rating: **
	Childsdale Bed & Breakfast Long Flat Rd P.O. Box 532 Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8531 1153 or 015 798 653 Facsimile: (08) 8531 1649 Rating: ***
	Apartments
	Hy-am Home 43 Parish Cres. Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 1174 Rating: ***
	Cottages & Cabins
	Avoca Dell Caravan Park 199 Murray Dve Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2095 Facsimile: (08) 8532 2795 Rating: ***1/2
	Oval Caravan Park 4 Le Messurier St Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2388 Facsimile: (08) 8531 1101 Rating: ***
	Princes Highway Caravan Park 313 Old Adelaide Rd Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2860 Facsimile: (08) 8532 2860 Rating: **
	Long Island Caravan Park 100 Roper Rd Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 6900 Facsimile: (08) 8532 6261 Rating: ***1/2
	Caravan Parks
	Avoca Dell Caravan Park Murray Dve P.O. Box 1209 Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2095 Rating: **
	Avoca Dell Caravan Park 199 Murray Dve Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2095 Facsimile: (08) 8532 2795 Rating: **1/2
	Oval Caravan Park 4 Le Messurier St Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2388 Facsimile: (08) 8531 1101 Rating: **1/2
	Princes Highway Caravan Park 313 Old Adelaide Rd Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2860 Facsimile: (08) 8532 2860 Rating: **1/2
	Long Island Caravan Park 100 Roper Rd Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 6900 Facsimile: (08) 8532 6261 Rating: ***1/2
	Houseboats
	Breakaway Houseboat Roper Rd Long Island Marina Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 6900
	Flipper IV Houseboat Jervois Rd River Glen Marina Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2230
	France Australia Houseboat Jervois Rd River Glen Marina Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (018) 802 850
	Huckleberry Houseboat Jervois Rd Riverglen Marina Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8258 2448
	Jubilee Line Houseboats 5 Albert Ave Tranmere Murray Bridge SA 5073 Telephone: (08) 8364 6066 or 0408 832847 Facsimile: (08) 8364 6061 Email: jubilee@chariot.net.au
	Lady Muck Houseboat Roper Rd Long Island Marina Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (018 ) 813 536
	Maggie C Houseboat Roper Rd Long Island Marina Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8381 2912
	Shangri-La Houseboat Roper Rd Long Island Marina Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 0235
	Sunseeka Houseboat 220 Murray Dve Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 3313
	Vacationer Houseboat 100 Roper Rd Long Island Marina Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8332 6468 or (08) 8339 3969
	Why Not Houseboat 100 Roper Rd Long Island Marina Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 5453 or 018 825 948
	Restaurants
	Amorosa Restaurant Bridge St Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8531 0559
	Barrangul M.V. River Cruises Sturt Reserve Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (018) 804 256
	Bridgeport Hotel Bridge St Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2002
	Dundees Hotel & Wildlife Park Jervois Rd Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 3666
	Happy Gathering Chinese Restaurant First St Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 5888
	Murray Bridge Hotel Sixth St Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2024
	Murray Bridge Motel 212 Adelaide Rd Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 1144
	Oriental Garden Licensed Restaurant Adelaide St Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 2226
	Twin Bridge Roadhouse Princes Hwy Murray Bridge SA 5253 Telephone: (08) 8532 1823