AusEmade: Blanchetown Information and Attractions, South Australia (SA), Australia

Blanchetown

Information Destination Guide

South Australia

Blanchetown
• Accommodation
• Attractions
• Distance

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• The Coorong
• Limestone Coast
• Salt Creek
• Tailem Bend

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Blanchetown - Cities, Towns and Localities

Located just over 130 km from Adelaide, the quiet town of Blanchetown is where the Murray River’s lock and weir water flow management system starts. The site of Lock 1 of a 15 lock system that was constructed along the river in the 1920s and 1930s to control the water level to enable the cargo and paddle-steamers to navigate their way up and down the waterways. The old bridge in the town provide great view of Lock 1 that was named after William Randell Lock in honour of the pioneer of river navigation in the 1800’s.

The Murray River at Blanchetown is only 3.6 m above sea level and some 270 plus km from the sea. The towering cliffs at Blanchetown, provide great viewing with their changing colours, and closer inspection reveals fossilised sea creatures. The town also has a number of historic buildings which date from the 1850s and 1860s.

The township was surveyed in 1855 and named after Lady Blanche, who was wife of the colon’s sixth governor, Sir R. G. MacDonnell.

For Blanchetown accommodation, click here. For additional information on attractions, tours and events, contact the local visitor centre.

Blanchetown Visitor Information and Services Centre
3 Shaw Street
BLANCHETOWN SA 5357
Ph: 08 8540 5453

Web: www.southaustralia.com/Riverland.aspx

Open
Mon to Fri	10 am - 4 pm
Thursday nights	Open til 6 pm
Open most weekends	call for details
Hours may vary, contact visitor centre

Map of Blanchetown, South Australia

Blanchetown Attractions

Murrundi
• On the banks of the Murray River, just 5 km south of Blanchetown, lies the site of the historic settlement of Murrundi. The settlement was named after the local Aboriginal tribe, although parts of it were later surveyed and named the Village of Sturt. Edward John Eyre, the renowned explorer and was Protector of Aborigines, established himself at Murrundi in 1841, as part of the efforts to quell the growing conflict between the overlands and local Aborigines. When he returned to England in 1844, he was replaced first by E. Nation and then Edward Bates Scott, acting as Sub-Protector of Aborigines and Police Inspector.

During the period 1841 and 1856, Murrundi served as the Aboriginal contact point, rations depot, experimental irrigation settlement, port, military and police outpost. The continual flooding saw the end of the settlement, with Blanchetown being established on the cliffs overlooking the river.

Due to its historical and cultural significance, the site of Murrundi is now on the Register of State Heritage Items.

Brookfield Conservation Park
• Created in the early 1970s as a habitat for the southern hairy-nosed wombat, the park contains red mallee, mallee box, yorrell, false sandalwood, oil bush and blue bush. Located just 11 km west of Blanchetown, the park includes picnic facilities near the Rangers Office.

Blanchetown Distance

Distance to Blanchetown
• Following are some approximate distances by road to Blanchetown:

	Km
• Adelaide	131.8
• Berri	102.1
• Burra	127.1

	Km
• Loxton	114.7
• Renmark	121.3
• Waikerie	42.2

Distances given are only approximation, they should be verified with the appropriate map.