Goolwa

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 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). Australia's first railway 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. }}

Most-observed species

• New Holland Honeyeater

  Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  4,860
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  4,726
• Red Wattlebird

  Anthochaera carunculata (Shaw, 1790) · Aves
  4,497
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  3,650
• Superb Fairywren

  Malurus cyaneus (Ellis, 1782) · Aves
  3,521
• Galah

  Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  3,350
• Little Raven

  Corvus mellori Mathews, 1912 · Aves
  3,342
• Silver Gull

  Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae (Stephens, 1826) · Aves
  3,267

Most recent

• M 3 — 2022-03-29
  3 km ESE of Macclesfield, Australia
• M 4 — 2022-03-05
  3 km SW of Mount Barker, Australia
• M 3.2 — 2018-08-08
  11 km WNW of Mannum, Australia
• M 3.9 — 2017-02-01
  9 km NW of Murray Bridge, Australia
• M 3.3 — 2011-10-18
  3 km ESE of Hawthorndene, Australia
• M 3.8 — 2010-04-16
  2 km N of Macclesfield, Australia