PARINGA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

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A major centre for the Murray River irrigation area around Renmark, Paringa's chief appeal lies in its easy access to the Murray River and the range of excellent parks and vantage points over the river it offers to the curious visitor.
Location: 261 km north-east of Adelaide; 4 km from Renmark
Origin of name: of Aboriginal origin, said to mean 'mud'.
Brief history: The area around Paringa did not acquire any importance until 1887 when George and William Chaffey signed an agreement with the South Australian government which led to the creation of an irrigation scheme which was to turn the entire area into one of the most productive in the country. The scheme to water the entire area was greeted enthusiastically with the Assistant Director of Kew Gardens in London declaring 'from these sunny lands where our sons and daughters have made their homes, we shall draw our future supply of fruit'. By 1892 the Chaffey experiment had collapsed. The Chaffeys created open drainage systems which watered the land.
In the 1890s 'Breaker' Morant worked in the local area on the Paringa Station. When Paringa Station went broke Morant and two of the boys from the station joined the Bushveld Carbineers and served in the Boer War. He was subsequently executed by the British.
Natural features: Murray River; Murtho Forest and Heading Cliffs (15 km); Bert Dix Memorial Park
Built features: Lock 5
Heritage features: Paringa Bridge (1927).