Murray Bridge  South Australia

The state’s largest river town, Murray Bridge is 84km south-east of Adelaide by road and 115km upstream from the Murray’s entrance to Lake Alexandrina. Settled in 1850, the town was the site for the first South Australian bridge built across the Murray. Opened in 1879, the bridge carried both horse-drawn vehicles and trains until a separate rail crossing was constructed in 1925. The latest, 744m bridge - built 5km downstream in 1979 -provides a crossing for the South-eastern Freeway. The confluence of road, rail and river transport underpinned Murray Bridge’s development and though its strategic importance has diminished, it remains a major commercial and industrial and processing centre. Today’s flourishing city of 13,500 offers varied shopping, a wide range of accommodation and exciting restaurants to complement the cruising, fishing and waterskiing. Two marinas provide a safe haven and moorings for cruising houseboats. The Sturt Reserve provides the perfect riverfront picnic area and there is a generous distribution of boat ramps along the town reaches of the river.