๐ฆ๐บ Goolwa is a historic river port on the Murray River near the Murray Mouth in South Australia, and joined by a bridge to Hindmarsh Island. The name "Goolwa" means "elbow" in Ngarrindjeri, the local Aboriginal language, and the area was known as "The Elbow" to the early settlers.
Goolwa is approximately 85ย km south of Adelaide, and is the seat of the Alexandrina Council. It is in the state electoral district of Hammond and the federal Division of Mayo.
History Before 1837 the area was briefly considered for the site of the colony's capital; a 'special survey' was undertaken in 1839โ40 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 was constructed in 1852 and government buildings soon followed, including a post office in 1853. However, the treacherous waters of the Murray Mouth made it difficult for shipping and made the town unsuitable as a major port. Goolwa nevertheless developed as Australia's first inland port (1853) built to connect the town to Port Elliot and later extended to Victor Harbor, allowing goods to move from river boats to sea boats, so that neither had to negotiate the Murray Mouth.
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 Hindmarsh Island 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 (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 NSW and Victoria has led to massive flows down the River Murray and by January 2011 all the gates on the Goolwa Barrage were open.
Culture Every odd-numbered year, Goolwa hosts the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival. The town is a popular holiday destination and home to the PS Oscar W, a paddle steamer.
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. The local councils are left with the dilemma of how to provide sufficient services for the influx of new residents, while at the same time not spoiling the character and appeal of the area that attracts newcomers.
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.
Goolwa has a population of over 11,578 people. Goolwa also forms part of the wider Alexandrina District which has a population of over 28,730 people. It is also a part of the larger Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island Region. Goolwa is situated near Victor Harbor.
Goolwa is a member of the Cittaslow Network with: ๐ฉ๐ช Blieskastel ๐ฎ๐น Ribera ๐บ๐ธ Sebastopol ๐ฎ๐น Castelnovo ne' Monti ๐น๐ท Mudurnu ๐น๐ท Gรผdรผl ๐ฎ๐น Santa Sofia ๐ช๐ธ Begur ๐ฎ๐น Brisighella ๐ฎ๐น Marradi ๐ซ๐ท Mirande ๐ฎ๐น Penne ๐ซ๐ท Creon ๐ฉ๐ช Schwetzingen ๐น๐ท Eฤirdir ๐ต๐น Tavira ๐ฉ๐ฐ Svendborg ๐น๐ท Arapgir ๐ฉ๐ช Lรผdinghausen ๐ณ๐ฑ Bellingwedde
๐ฆ๐บ Murray Bridge -35.12
๐ฆ๐บ Wagga Wagga -35.117
๐ฆ๐บ Shoalhaven -35.117
๐ฆ๐ท San Vicente -35.017
๐ฆ๐บ Victor Harbor -35.55
๐ณ๐ฟ Whangฤrei -35.725
๐ฆ๐บ Albury-Wodonga -36.084
๐ฆ๐บ Shepparton -36.383
๐จ๐ฑ San Carlos -36.417
๐ณ๐ฟ Hibiscus Coast -36.606
๐ฆ๐ท Santa Rosa -36.617
๐ฏ๐ต Fujiyoshida 138.808
๐ฏ๐ต Higashiagatsuma 138.817
๐ฏ๐ต Minami-Uonuma 138.867
๐ฏ๐ต Minamiuonuma 138.867
๐ฏ๐ต Fujinomiya 138.618
๐ฆ๐บ Victor Harbor 138.617
๐ฏ๐ต Kashiwazaki 138.567
๐ฆ๐บ Port Adelaide 138.5
Locations Near: Goolwa 138.767,-35.5
๐ฆ๐บ Victor Harbor 138.617,-35.55 d: 14.7
๐ฆ๐บ Adelaide 138.6,-34.917 d: 66.6
๐ฆ๐บ Murray Bridge 139.275,-35.12 d: 62.5
๐ฆ๐บ Port Adelaide 138.5,-34.833 d: 78
๐ฆ๐บ Port Lincoln 135.85,-34.717 d: 279.3
๐ฆ๐บ Mildura 141.6,-34.383 d: 286.5
๐ฆ๐บ Mount Gambier 140.781,-37.828 d: 315.1
๐ฆ๐บ Ballarat 143.855,-37.562 d: 509
Antipodal to: Goolwa -41.233,35.5
๐ง๐ท Florianรณpolis -48.552,27.592 d: 18895.9
๐ง๐ท Guarulhos -46.517,23.455 d: 18582.1
๐ง๐ท Vinhedo -46.975,23.03 d: 18521.6
๐ต๐น Angra do Heroรญsmo -27.217,38.65 d: 18724.7
๐ง๐ท Greater Vitรณria -40.308,20.289 d: 18321.3
๐ต๐น Ponta Delgada -25.673,37.736 d: 18606
๐จ๐ฆ St. John's -52.712,47.561 d: 18372.3
๐ฆ๐ท Ensenada -57.9,34.867 d: 18500.5
๐ฆ๐ท Hurlingham -58.639,34.588 d: 18429.3