Berri, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BerriSouth Australia |
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Looking over Berri and the Murray River from the scenic lookout
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 Berri
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 1911 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5343 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 31 m (102 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 238 km (148 mi) from Adelaide | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Berri Barmera Council | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Chaffey | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Barker | ||||||||||||||
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Berri is a lovely town in the Riverland area of South Australia. It's about 238 kilometres (that's about a 2.5-hour drive) northeast of Adelaide, the capital city. Berri is known for its farms and vineyards, growing lots of fruit and grapes. It sits right on the north bank of the famous Murray River. Did you know the popular juice company, Berri Ltd., started right here?
Contents
Berri's Story: A Look Back in Time
How Berri Got Its Name
The name "Berri" comes from the local Aboriginal people. Their word "Meri" means "a wide bend in the river." This perfectly describes the way the Murray River flows around the town.
Early Days and European Settlement
The first European to explore this area was Charles Sturt. He navigated the Murray River a long time ago. Later, paddle steamers (boats powered by large wheels) traveled the river. Berri became an important stop for these boats to refuel. This helped the town grow. The land was also part of a large farming area called Cobdogla Station.
Growing with Irrigation
In 1910, a system called irrigation was set up. This meant water could be brought to the farms. Berri officially became a town in 1911. Irrigation helped farmers grow many things. They planted vineyards for grapes and fruit orchards. You could find citrus fruits, apricots, and peaches growing everywhere.
A place to make drinks from fruit was built in 1918. Trains also arrived in 1928, making it easier to transport goods. In 1943, "Berri Juices" (now Berri Ltd.) started making juice. By the 1950s, Berri and other Riverland towns were famous for their fruit and fruit products.
The Berri Bridge
For a long time, people crossed the Murray River using two ferries. These were replaced by a big bridge in 1997. The Premier of South Australia, John Olsen, opened it. It's the largest bridge of its kind in South Australia. About 10,000 people came to the opening on July 27, 1997. The bridge cost $17 million and connects Berri to the town of Loxton.
The Railway Line
Berri used to have a railway line. It opened in the 1920s and connected Berri to Meribah. However, the railway closed on December 31, 1990, and the tracks were removed soon after.
Berri's Location and Weather
Where is Berri?
Berri is 31 metres above sea level. It's close to other towns like Renmark, South Australia and Mildura. The area around Berri is mostly dry land with special plants called mallee scrub.
Berri's Climate
Berri has a warm, dry climate. This means it has very hot, dry summers. Winters are mild, with a little more rain. In January, the average high temperature is about 31 degrees Celsius. In July, the average high is around 15 degrees Celsius. It doesn't rain much in Berri, with only about 261 millimetres of rain each year.
Berri Today: What to See and Do
Berri is a town with many different cultures. It has a nice cafe and a hotel right by the river. The main street also looks over the river. You can find other shops at places like the Riverland Plaza.
Riverside Fun
The Berri Visitors Centre is right on the waterfront. It shares a spot with River Jacks cafe. This is a popular place for locals and tourists to meet. It's great because it's by the water and has outdoor dining.
The Murray River itself is perfect for fun activities. You can go fishing, waterskiing, and boating. There's a special place to launch boats near the caravan park. The Martin's Bend wetland is a great spot for walks and water sports. Nearby, the "Katarapko" part of the Murray River National Park is popular for camping, birdwatching, canoeing, and bushwalking.
The Big Orange
A famous old tourist spot was the Big Orange. It was a three-story building where you could look out over the plains and river. It also sold souvenirs and local food. The Big Orange opened in 1980 but closed to visitors in 2004. People have ideas for its future, like turning it into a garden with butterflies and birds.
Local Industries
Growing fruits like oranges and grapes is still very important here. Berri has about 3000 hectares (that's like 30 square kilometres) of fruit orchards that use irrigation. Other important businesses include packing fruit, making fruit juice, and producing wine.
Berri also hosts fun events. These include the yearly Riverland Wine and Food Festival and the Tour of Riverland Cycling race.
Art and Culture in Berri
River Lands Gallery
The Country Arts SA River Lands Gallery in Berri always has something new to see. Each month, they feature different art shows. These include traveling exhibits and art by local Riverland artists.
Public Art and Memorials
Berri also has special public artworks. You can see the Riverland Vietnam & Post WWII veteran's war memorial. There's also an Aboriginal dreamtime mural under the Berri Bridge.
Jimmy James Memorial
On the Berri riverfront, you'll find the Jimmy James Memorial. Jimmy James was a famous "blacktracker." He was born around 1910 and was from the Pitjantjatjara people. He moved to the Riverland in the 1940s. Jimmy was very skilled at tracking people. Police in South Australia and other states often asked for his help to find criminals, people who had escaped, or missing persons. His monument is made of two shiny black granite slabs. They have carvings of birds and animals, which were important to Jimmy's spiritual world.
Media in Berri
Berri used to have its own community newspaper called the Berri Community News. It was published from 1951 to 1962. Later, it was called Berri News.
You can watch several TV channels in Berri:
- ABC Television (ABC)
- SBS Television (SBS)
- WIN Television (which shows programs from Seven, Nine, and Ten networks)
- Sky News Regional
- Fox Sports News
Berri is also home to two radio stations: Magic 93.1 and 5RM.
How Berri is Governed
Berri is part of the Berri Barmera Council. This is the local government that helps run the town. For state government, Berri is in the Chaffey area. For the national government, it's in the Division of Barker. These groups help make decisions for the community.
Famous People from Berri
Many talented people have come from Berri:
- Russell Ebert: A champion Australian rules football player.
- Rhys Stanley: An AFL player for the Geelong Football Club.
- Luke Saville: A professional tennis player.
- Kate Morton: A well-known author.
- Kaiden Brand: Another Australian Football League player.
- Alexander Hill: A world champion rower.
- Ron Battams: An Australian rules football player for the St Kilda Football Club.
Notable Residents
Some other famous people have lived in Berri:
- Archie Roach: A respected singer and songwriter.
- Ruby Hunter: Also a talented singer and songwriter.
- Hayden Stoeckel: A local swimmer.
