Paringa, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ParingaSouth Australia |
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Paringa bridge. The central route, which once carried trains, now provides a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists. One lane on each side of the central route carries road vehicles.
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 Paringa
Location in South Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 5340 | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACDT (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Renmark Paringa Council | ||||||||||||||
| County | Alfred | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Chaffey | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Barker | ||||||||||||||
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Paringa is a small town located in the Riverland area of South Australia. It is about 17 kilometers (11 miles) from the border with Victoria. The town is well-known for its many vineyards. It also has large farms growing almonds, citrus fruits, and stone fruits like peaches and apricots.
The most famous part of Paringa is its special bridge. This bridge crosses the Murray River. It has six sections, and one of them can be lifted up. This allows tall boats, like houseboats and old paddle-steamers, to pass underneath safely.
Paringa's Railway History
Paringa was once a very important stop on a railway line. For 14 years, it was the end of the line that later became known as the Barmera railway line. This railway was one of several built to help farms grow in the Murraylands region.
The railway line first opened in mid-1913. It stretched from Tailem Bend to Meribah. Soon after, the line was extended 64 kilometers (40 miles) north to Paringa. The official opening in Paringa happened on October 3, 1913.
The Paringa Bridge
It took 14 more years for the railway to cross the river into Renmark. The famous Paringa Bridge was built to make this possible. It opened on January 31, 1927. This bridge allowed the railway to finally reach Renmark.
The Paringa Bridge was designed to carry both trains and cars. It has a single railway track in the middle. On each side of the track, there is a lane for road vehicles. The bridge is very old and important. It is even listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.
Even though the railway closed in 1990, the bridge is still very busy. It now carries the Sturt Highway. This highway is a main road link between the cities of Adelaide and Sydney.
Paringa Today
Today, Paringa is like a smaller neighbor to the bigger town of Renmark. Renmark is only about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) upstream. Many new homes have been built in Paringa recently.
The town serves as a helpful center for the big farms nearby. These farms are located along the Murtho and Lindsay Point roads. Paringa has a local pub, a general store for everyday needs, a museum, and an antiques shop. There is also a nice picnic area by the river, right next to the bridge.
Local Government
Paringa is part of the Renmark Paringa Council. This happened in July 1996. Before that, Paringa had its own local council called the District Council of Paringa. The town had only one mayor, Alan Eckermann, before the two councils joined together.
