Your discovery begins with a tribute to the Ngarrindjeri people, the traditional owners of the land on which you walk today.

Ngarrindjeri History

The Ngarrindjeri people are the original indigenous inhabitants of the lands and waters of the Murray River, lower lakes and Coorong Region.

The Ngarrindjeri were widely known as "outstanding craftsmen" specialising in basketry, matting and nets with records indicating that nets of more than 100 metres (330ft) long were used to catch emus. It was claimed by colonists that the nets they made for fishing were superior to those used by Europeans.

Early European History

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 Darling River on 23 January 1830 and named the major stream the Murray River. 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.

Following early navigation of the Murray River, beacons and navigational markers were erected between Goolwa and Wellington in 1852 allowing for safe passage across the lakes. This resulted in the start of the river trade in 1854 and 2 years later George Edwards and his family were to be the first European Settlers in Murray Bridge.

By 1864, a proposal to build a bridge across the Murray was raised in parliament by a select committee. The Bridge opened in 1879 after six years of construction. It was followed in 1886 by the Adelaide-Melbourne railway line crossing the bridge which guaranteed that the city's importance as a vital link across the river was assured.

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

Enjoy a leisurely hour and a half stroll around Murray Bridge and experience indigenous culture, railway heritage, great views of our river and surrounding environments. There are opportunities to extend your walk and discover more of our region or simply relax and indulge in some local delicacies or retail therapy.

This is based on/includes the Rural City of Murray Bridge's data.