Swan Reach, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swan ReachSouth Australia |
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 Swan Reach
Location in South Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 5354 |
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) |
| • Summer (DST) | ACDT (UTC+10:30) |
| LGA(s) | Mid Murray Council |
| State electorate(s) | Chaffey |
| Federal Division(s) | Barker |
Swan Reach is a small town in South Australia. It is a river port located about 127 km north-east of Adelaide. The town sits on the Murray River, between the towns of Blanchetown and Mannum. It is on the left side of the river.
A special boat called the Swan Reach Ferry helps people and cars cross the river. This ferry is a cable ferry, meaning it pulls itself across using a cable. It is run by the state government as part of the local road system. Swan Reach is also one of the lowest parts of the Murray River. In 2009–2010, the river level was about 1.5 metres lower than usual. In late 2022 and early 2023, the town had a big flood. The river levels were as high as they were in a major flood in 1956. Many homes and businesses were flooded, especially on Victoria Street and at Marks Landing. At the 2016 census, Swan Reach had 283 people living there.
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History of Swan Reach
Swan Reach was first settled in the 1850s. It began as the largest of five sheep and cattle farms in the area. Soon, it became one of the first riverboat ports in South Australia. Boats would stop here to load grain and wool.
Swan Reach Mission
The Swan Reach Mission was started in 1926 by the United Aborigines Mission (UAM). Its goal was to offer Christian education to Aboriginal children. The mission closed in 1946 because the area often flooded. The UAM then opened a new mission called Gerard Mission near Loxton. Some families moved to the new mission. Others, like the parents of singer-songwriter Ruby Hunter, moved to find work elsewhere. Children who lived at the mission were sometimes separated from their families. Later, some of these children received help through a special program called the National Redress Scheme.
Life in Swan Reach Today
Swan Reach has a few important places for its residents and visitors. There is an area school for students. The town also has a hotel with a bottle shop. You can find a general store and a post office for your daily needs. There is an op shop that is open on weekdays and Saturday mornings. A fast food take-away shop is located near the ferry.
Tourism and Economy
Tourism is important to Swan Reach. Two tourist boats, the Proud Mary and the paddle-wheeler PS Murray Princess, visit the town once a week. These boats bring many visitors to the area. Agriculture, like farming, is also a main industry. There is a large almond processing plant about 1.5 km from town on the Stott Highway. This plant helps the local economy.
Community and Services
The town has a Lutheran church that holds regular services. A Lutheran pastor lives in Swan Reach. Anglican and Roman Catholic church services are also held once a month. These services help build the community spirit in the town.
River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve
The Swan Reach Conservation Park is part of a very special area. This area covers about 3,200 square kilometres. In October 2019, it was named the nation's first and the world's 15th International Dark Sky Reserve. This title was given by the International Dark-Sky Association.
What is a Dark Sky Reserve?
A "dark sky" title means that the night sky in these areas is very dark. This allows people to see stars and planets clearly. There are rules in place to keep light pollution very low. A place gets reserve status only if both public and private land are included in these rules. This helps protect the natural darkness of the night sky.
Space Observatory in the Reserve
In June 2020, a big project was announced for the reserve. Silentium Defence and the Western Sydney University teamed up. They planned to build an observatory to watch satellites and other objects in space. This observatory helps with space domain awareness. The location in the Murray Mallee area was perfect for this project. The Oculus passive radar observatory opened in December 2021. The official name for this special area is the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve.
