Swanport Reserve

The Pro-Cathedral Church of Saint John the Baptist is the smallest Cathedral in Australia. It is also the oldest church in the city, built 1887.

One of the few Australian towns named after a bridge (and not a very original name for a bridge at that), Murray Bridge is the gateway to the Fleurieu Peninsula or the south east region of South Australia, depending on which way you are travelling.

Where is it?: South Australia: Murray Riverlands. Murray Bridge is 80 km south east of Adelaide via the South eastern Freeway.

About Murray River

It is appropriate that the town is named after a bridge (or pair of them) as the two bridges across the Murray River, one carrying the Princes Highway and the other the main railway line between Melbourne and Adelaide, are very distinctive and often photographed features.
Situated 80 kilometres (50 mi) southeast of Adelaide and 1 hour drive north of Meningie, South Australia's fourth most populous city services a farming area that produces dairy, pigs, chickens, cereal crops and vegetables for the table's Adelaide's residents.
The city has a rich motor racing history. Established in 1958, Riverview Speedway is one of Australia's premier country dirt track ovals regularly hosting Australian title meetings in most racing categories including bikes and cars. Murray Bridge is also known for its basketball. Having won numerous State Country Championships and many of its young players going on to represent South Australia in the Nationals Competition.

History: Murray Bridge is in the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people. The first European explorer was Charles Sturt who camped here on 8 February 1830.
The first road bridge across the lower Murray was completed here in 1879 and has a 40 km/h speed limit. The bridge also became a shared road and rail bridge in 1886 until the separate rail bridge was completed in 1925.
The Swanport Bridge was completed 5 kilometres downstream in 1979, removing most through traffic from the historic bridge. The city was originally known as Mobilong, then Edwards Crossing before finally becoming Murray Bridge in 1924.
Murray Bridge has seen unprecedented growth in both population and economy, particularly in the last five years to 2006. From a 2001 census population of 14,048, Murray Bridge is in a constant state of growth, in fact it is one of South Australia's fastest growing localities. Current estimates suggest the 2009 population has exceeded 20,000; it is planned that Murray Bridge's population will have doubled from that figure by 2025.

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