Goolwa Walk

From the Railway Superintendent's Cottage to old Mr Sumners Bow fronted Baker Shop, Goolwa's architectural heritage is certainly eye catching. Both buildings highlight the role the town played as a transport hub and commercial centre. During its heyday from the 1850s to the 1880s it was one of Australia's most important river ports. And much of the trade included wool from nearby wealthy sheep runs like historic Poltalloch Homestead on the banks of Lake Alexandrina near Meningie It was wealth which would ultimately make its way through here, the Goolwa Wharf and in turn fuel a building boom which now forms the basis of the town's heritage walk. "So Anthony what's the story behind this place?" "Built by Captain George Johnston in 1857 for himself and his family, George Johnstone was the captain of the Lady Augusta in the race between Cadell and Radall when they went on that first voyage up the river." "So he is one of the most famous river captains?" "Yes,yes." Cockenzie House was named after Johnston's native village in Scotland. As a river captain he needed workers to man his paddlesteamers and the cottages for those workers were built nearby in what became known as Little Scotland. "So here we have a classic example of both sides of the social spectrum?" "Yes typical cottages for the workers either on the riverboats or other tasks in Goolwa built with front doors opening right on the street as they would have done in Scotland where a lot of them came from."

The self-guided historic walking tour of Goolwa also takes in the old Chart Room where the river captains stored their plans for new paddlesteamers and other river craft. But in the rush to make a profit on the river, sometimes too many risks were taken and lives were lost. For many years old pubs like the former Australasian Hotel served as the local morgue until a public outcry forced the construction of this building. "The publicans got sick of having the bodies of accidents and drowning laid out in the cellar of their hotels, so the Government eventually in 1883 built the morgue." "So bodies were left in the cellar?" "Yes laid out in the cellar prior to the inquiries, Coronial inquiries." If your planning to do the walk and want to stay overnight, then another piece of Goolwa's river history the Murray Queen offers ideal accommodation. The Murray Queen, built in 1974, was one of the first mega-style paddlesteamer built to carry large number of tourists on five day jaunts up the river to Swan Reach. She's now been converted into motel style accommodation and is permanently berthed at the town wharf. The Historic Goolwa walking tour brochure is available from the Signal Point Interpretative Centre for $2 and the Corio or Goolwa Hotels make a great spot for lunch.

For more information you can email info@postcards-sa.com.au