The Goolwa Barrages comprise five barrage structures in the channels separating Lake Alexandrina from the sea at the mouth of the

River Murray The Murray River (in South Australia: River Murray; Ngarrindjeri: ''Millewa'', Yorta Yorta: ''Dhungala'' or ''Tongala'') is a river in Southeastern Australia. It is Australia's longest river at extent. Its tributaries include five of the n ...

and the Coorong in

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

. They were constructed principally to reduce salinity levels in the lower reaches of the River Murray, Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert, but also to stabilise the river level, for both upstream

irrigation Irrigation (also referred to as watering of plants) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has bee ...

and pumping. Goolwa Barrage

History

Prior to the construction of the barrages, during periods of low river flow, tidal effects and the intrusion of seawater were felt up to upstream from the mouth of the River Murray, approximately as far inland as the river port at present-day Swan Reach. From the 1900s, with the advent of large irrigation schemes, landowners along the lower reaches of the river strongly urged for the construction of barrages, primarily to keep the water fresh in the lower reaches of the River Murray, as well as Lake Albert and Lake Alexandrina. In 1931, the Murray-Darling Basin Commission authorised the construction of five barrages. Work commenced in 1935 and was completed in 1940. South Australia's Engineering and Water Supply Department undertook the project, with costs shared equally by the governments of South Australia,

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

and the

Commonwealth of Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It has a total area of , making it the sixth-largest country in ...

Description

Aerial view of River Murray barrages with superimposed text - PRG-1258-2-546

The system consists of five barrages extending from Sir Richard Peninsula in the west to Pelican Point on the northern side of the mouth of the Coorong in the east, crossing five channels between the mainland and three islands. From west to east, the five barrages are named Goolwa, Mundoo, Boundary Creek, Ewe Island and Tauwitchere.

Goolwa Barrage

The Goolwa Barrage connects Sir Richard Peninsula on the mainland with

Hindmarsh Island Hindmarsh Island () is an inland river island located in the lower Murray River near the town of Goolwa, South Australia, Goolwa, South Australia. The island is a tourist destination, which has increased in popularity since the opening of the ...

. This barrage includes a

lock Lock(s) or Locked may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal Arts and entertainme ...

, which measures 30.5 m by 6.1 m.

Mundoo Barrage

The Mundoo Barrage connects Hindmarsh Island with Mundoo Island.

Boundary Creek Barrage

The Boundary Creek Barrage connects Mundoo Island with Ewe Island.

Ewe Island Barrage

The Ewe Island Barrage connects Ewe Island with Tauwitchere Island.

Tauwitchere Barrage

The Tauwitchere Barrage connects Tauwitchere Island with Pelican Point on the mainland. The lock in this barrage, provided for fishing boats, measures 13.7 m by 3.8 m.

Engineering heritage award

The barrages are listed as a National Engineering Landmark by

Engineers Australia Engineers Australia (EA), known formally as the Institution of Engineers, Australia, is an Australian professional body and Non-profit organization, not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to advance the science and practice of engineerin ...

as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goolwa Barrages Dams in South Australia Murray-Darling basin Tidal barrages Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers