Goolwa is a historic town in South Australia, located on the mouth of the Murray River, the longest river in Australia. Goolwa was once a thriving port and a centre of trade, transport, and communication in the region. It played an important role in the development of South Australia and the nation as a whole. Today, Goolwa is a popular tourist destination, offering a range of attractions and activities that reflect its rich and diverse heritage.

Origins

The name Goolwa means "elbow" in Ngarrindjeri, the language of the indigenous people who have inhabited the area for thousands of years. The Ngarrindjeri lived along the river and the coast, relying on the abundant resources of the land and the sea. They had a complex social and spiritual system, and a strong connection to their country. They also traded with other Aboriginal groups across the continent, using the river as a route of exchange.

The first European to explore the area was Captain Charles Sturt, who reached the mouth of the Murray River in 1830. He was followed by other explorers and surveyors who mapped the region and reported on its potential for settlement and agriculture. The first settlers arrived in the 1830s, attracted by the fertile soil and the access to the river. They established farms, orchards, and vineyards, and introduced sheep and cattle to the land.

Development

Goolwa's development as a port town began in the 1850s, when the river trade between South Australia and the eastern colonies boomed. Goolwa became the terminus of the river trade, where goods and passengers were transferred from the paddle steamers to the railway or the sea vessels. Goolwa was also the site of the first public railway in Australia, which opened in 1854 and connected Goolwa to Port Elliot and later to Victor Harbor. The railway enabled the export of wool, wheat, and other products from the hinterland to the markets in Adelaide and overseas.

Goolwa's prosperity and importance grew in the second half of the 19th century, as it became a hub of commerce, industry, and culture. Goolwa had a population of over 2,000 people by 1880, and boasted a range of facilities and services, such as hotels, shops, banks, schools, churches, newspapers, and a telegraph station. Goolwa was also a centre of innovation and engineering, as it hosted the construction of several bridges, dams, and locks along the river, as well as the first Australian-built steamship, the PS Lady Augusta, which was launched in 1853.

Significance

Goolwa's significance as a port town declined in the 20th century, as the river trade diminished and the railway was replaced by road transport. Goolwa faced economic and social challenges, such as floods, droughts, unemployment, and depopulation. However, Goolwa also reinvented itself as a tourist destination, capitalizing on its natural beauty, historic charm, and cultural diversity. Goolwa offers a variety of attractions and activities for visitors, such as sailing, fishing, surfing, golfing, cycling, birdwatching, art, music, and festivals. Goolwa is also part of the Coorong National Park, a wetland of international importance and a sanctuary for wildlife.

Goolwa's history is a story of adaptation and resilience, of the interaction between people and the environment, and of the contribution of different cultures and communities to the development of South Australia and Australia. Goolwa is a town that celebrates its past, embraces its present, and looks forward to its future.