Goolwa, known as The Elbow to early settlers, is an historic

river port An inland port is a port on an inland waterway, such as a river, lake, or canal, which may or may not be connected to the sea. The term "inland port" is also used to refer to a dry port. Examples The United States Army Corps of Engineers pub ...

on the

Murray River The Murray River (in South Australia: River Murray; Ngarrindjeri language, Ngarrindjeri: ''Millewa'', Yorta Yorta language, Yorta Yorta: ''Dhungala'' or ''Tongala'') is a river in Southeastern Australia. It is List of rivers of Australia, Aust ...

near the

Murray Mouth Murray Mouth is the point at which the River Murray meets the Southern Ocean. The Murray Mouth's location is changeable. Historical records show that the channel out to sea moves along the sand dunes over time. At times of greater river flow ...

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

. Goolwa is approximately south of

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

, and is joined by a bridge to

Hindmarsh Island Hindmarsh Island () is an inland river island located in the lower Murray River near the town of Goolwa, South Australia, Goolwa, South Australia. The island is a tourist destination, which has increased in popularity since the opening of the ...

History

The name "Goolwa" means "elbow" in the Ngarrindjeri language, and the area was known as "The Elbow" to the early settlers. Before 1837 the area was briefly considered for the site of the colony's capital; a "special survey" was undertaken in 1839–40, with a sizeable township laid out at Currency Creek and land for a port with substantial warehousing on the river where Goolwa now stands. A

wharf A wharf ( or wharfs), quay ( , also ), staith, or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbour or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Such a structure includes one or more Berth (mo ...

was constructed in 1852 and government buildings soon followed, including a post office in 1853. However, the treacherous waters of the

made it difficult for shipping and made the town unsuitable as a major port. Goolwa nevertheless developed as Australia's first inland port (1853). Australia's first railway''The Goolwa to Port Elliot Railway'' Callaghan, W.H.

Australian Railway History ''Australian Railway History'' is a monthly magazine covering railway history in Australia, published by the New South Wales Division of the Australian Railway Historical Society on behalf of its state and territory Divisions. History and prof ...

, May, 2004 pp 163–181 was opened in 1854 to connect Goolwa to Port Elliot. It was later extended to Victor Harbor, allowing goods to move from river boats to ships, so that neither had to negotiate the Murray Mouth. Goolwa was officially established in 1857. In 1919 the District Trained Nursing Society sent Clara Winifred Howie to establish a nursing facility in Goolwa. The spread of railways to inland Australia put an end to the river trade and Goolwa's significance as a port. With the decline of the river trade Goolwa became dependent on local farming and fishing, as well as becoming a popular destination for holidaymakers from Adelaide. In 1935 a permanent barrage (called the Goolwa Barrage) was constructed between

and Sir Richard Peninsula on the south eastern outskirts of Goolwa. The barrage separates the fresh water of the River Murray from the salt water coming up from the River Murray mouth. The barrage was constructed to prevent the salt water traversing further up the River Murray and polluting much needed fresh water. Goolwa had earlier been connected to Hindmarsh Island by a cable ferry; this was replaced in 2001 by the official opening of the Hindmarsh Island bridge, the construction of which had been a focus of national controversy during the 1990s. During 2008 and 2009 Goolwa suffered from one of the worst droughts in Australian history and the river which has sustained the town throughout its history was reduced to nothing much more than a channel and mudflats. The crisis prompted ongoing discussions with state and federal governments with the aim of releasing more water from upstream to ensure the survival of the river. In 2009 a temporary

levee A levee ( or ), dike (American English), dyke (British English; see American and British English spelling differences#Miscellaneous spelling differences, spelling differences), embankment, floodbank, or stop bank is an elevated ridge, natural ...

(called the Clayton Regulator) was constructed between Clayton Bay and the north east side of Hindmarsh Island. The Regulator was put in place to protect the Goolwa Channel and its tributaries from the danger of acid sulfate soils. The low water level was exposing the river bed and scientific evidence warned of the devastating impact of acidification of the Lower Lakes region. The Regulator immediately increased the water level between the Regulator and the Goolwa Barrage. In 2010 increased rainfall and water from upstream allowed the Regulator at Clayton Bay to be substantially removed. The rainfall has replenished much of the river and lower lakes. In late 2010 some gates on the Goolwa Barrage were opened for the first time in many years to allow fresh water to flow to the Murray Mouth. Continued rainfalls combined with flooding upstream in

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

and Victoria led to massive flows down the River Murray, and by January 2011 all the gates on the Goolwa Barrage were open.

Location and governance

Goolwa is approximately south of

, and is the seat of the Alexandrina Council. It is in the state

electoral district of Hammond Hammond is a single-member electoral district for the South Australian House of Assembly. It is named after Ruby Hammond, the first indigenous woman to stand for the Federal Parliament. Hammond is a rural electorate east and south-east of Adel ...

and the federal Division of Mayo. At the 2011 census, the state suburb of Goolwa (excluding Goolwa Beach, Goolwa North and Goolwa South) had a population of 2,201. At June 2018, the estimated urban population for Goolwa together with nearby Victor Harbor was 26,532, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. having increased at an average annual rate of 1.07% year-on-year over the preceding five years. The portion of this combined urban area residing in Goolwa is 11,578.

Culture and recreation

Every odd-numbered year, Goolwa hosts the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival (SAWBF). The town is a popular holiday destination and home to the '' PS Oscar W'', a

paddle steamer A paddle steamer is a steamship or steamboat powered by a steam engine driving paddle wheels to propel the craft through the water. In antiquity, paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, whereby the first uses were wh ...

. Goolwa, along with the neighbouring towns of Middleton and Port Elliot and the city of Victor Harbor have in the 2000s enjoyed a nationally recognised " sea change" boom, with people moving there from more metropolitan areas for an improved lifestyle on the coast. In March 2007, Goolwa was declared a Cittaslow by visiting Cittaslow representatives. Goolwa was the first non-European town to gain Cittaslow status. On 22 January 2010 the 4th stage of the Tour Down Under finished at Goolwa. As part of the event more than 8,000 cyclists, that participated in the preceding Mutual Community Challenge Tour, rode into Goolwa on the day.

CLLMM Research Centre

In early February 2024, the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Research Centre, run by the Goyder Institute for Water Research, opened, located between the Hindmarsh Island bridge and the barrage. The centre's focus is on studying and adapting to the effects of

climate change Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in Global surface temperature, global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate variability and change, Climate change in ...

in the region, by using both First Nations and scientific knowledge.

Climate

Goolwa has a

warm-summer mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate ( ), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...

( Köppen: Csb), with warm, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. There is some

seasonal lag Seasonal lag is the phenomenon whereby the date of maximum average air temperature at a geographical location on a planet is delayed until some time after the date of maximum daylight (i.e. the summer solstice). This also applies to the minimum ...

from oceanic influence, with average maxima ranging from in February to in July, and average minima fluctuating between in February and in July. Annual precipitation is moderately low, averaging , between 144.3 precipitation days. Despite this, the town only has 46.3 clear days while having 181.5 cloudy days annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from on 14 January 1996 to on 18 June 1998.

References