The Wharf at Murray Bridge.
Declared the Port of Mobilong in 1886 the wharf was one of the largest ports in the Murray-Darling Basin. When the Adelaide to Melbourne railway was finished it became a gateway for the bountiful harvest of the inland (grain, wool, fruit and fish) being transferred from paddle steamers to the railway and eventually to Adelaide or Melbourne. 16 steamtrains a day were loaded with the cargo from the paddle steamers and barges. The wharf and its stores stretched for 350m along the river.
At its peak the port had a Wharf 350 meters long with up to 16 trains per day.
A number of paddle steamers and other craft have found a watery grave along this stretch of the river
North of the Road bridge are:
PS Bejo, PS Colonel, PS Alfred (photo of PS Alfred when an operating paddle steamer below) as well as the barge Columbia
South of the Railway Bridge are:
Screw Steamer Merle (photo of SS Merle below), PS Eva, PS Murrundi, PS William Davies, PS Pearl, as well as various barges
Enhance your trails experience, for more information about South Australian trails including bike, walking, scuba and horse trails go the the SA Trails website: www.southaustraliantrails.com
