Barmera, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Barmera is a town in the Riverland
region of South Australia
. It is on the Sturt Highway A20
, 220 kilometres north-east of Adelaide
, the capital of the state of South Australia
. It is primarily an agricultural
and viticultural
town and is located on Lake Bonney (Riverland)
, a freshwater lake. The population was 1928 in 2006.
group. Others postulate it comes from Barmeedjie, the name of the tribe that lived to the north of the Murray River prior to European settlement.
Lake Bonney was first seen by Charles Bonney
and Joseph Hawdon
in 1838 drove cattle along the Murray River
. The lake was named after Bonney. The land however, was settled in 1859 with the establishment of Overland Corner Hotel. It was a popular area with drovers that drove sheep from New South Wales
into South Australia
. A police station was also built to prevent and stop arguments between the indigenes and settlers.
An irrigation system was established in the town in 1921. The town became gazetted. An influx of World War I
veterans settled with promises of irrigated land from the government. A railway station was opened in 1928 and the town was proclaimed in the same year. In World War II
an interrment camp was established south of Barmera in Loveday
and was one of the largest World War II camps in Australia.
location, north of Goyder's Line
. Barmera is surrounded by mallee
scrub. It is 29 metres above sea level. Barmera has a dry climate with hot summers and warm days and cold frosty nights in winter with seasonal temperatures a few degrees above Adelaide
's temperatures and similar to those of Berri
. The weather patterns are similar to those of Berri. It receives less than 250 mm of rain per annum. Rain patterns shift from year to year over a nineteen year cycle.
Every Easter, a sailing regatta is held on Lake Bonney and a country music festival is held every June. Riverland Field Days
are held in September a Show is held in March.
Barmera is in the Berri Barmera Council
local government area, the South Australian House of Assembly
electoral district of Chaffey
and the Australian House of Representatives
Division of Barker
.
The town is home to the sporting teams Barmera/Monash Roos Football Club and the Barmera United Soccer Club.
Riverland
The Riverland, is a region of South Australia. It covers the area near the Murray River from where it flows into South Australia downstream to Blanchetown.The major town centres are Renmark, Berri, Loxton, Waikerie and Barmera...
region of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It is on the Sturt Highway A20
Sturt Highway
The Sturt Highway is an Australian highway in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is part of the Auslink National network and is part of the main highway route between Sydney and Adelaide.-Route:...
, 220 kilometres north-east of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, the capital of the state of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It is primarily an agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and viticultural
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
town and is located on Lake Bonney (Riverland)
Lake Bonney (Riverland)
Lake Bonney is a freshwater lake located in the Riverland region of South Australia. The town of Barmera is located on its shores. The lake was discovered by Europeans on 12 March 1838, when encountered by the overlanding party of Joseph Hawdon and Charles Bonney, who were the first to drove...
, a freshwater lake. The population was 1928 in 2006.
History
It is unknown where the name "Barmera" comes from but it is suspected that it means "water place" or "land dwellers", being a word from a local AboriginalIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
group. Others postulate it comes from Barmeedjie, the name of the tribe that lived to the north of the Murray River prior to European settlement.
Lake Bonney was first seen by Charles Bonney
Charles Bonney
Charles Bonney was a pioneer and politician in Australia.-Early life:Bonney was the youngest son of the Rev. George Bonney, a fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, and his wife Susanna, née Knight. He was born at Sandon, near Stafford, Staffordshire, England...
and Joseph Hawdon
Joseph Hawdon
Joseph Hawdon was a pioneer settler and overlander of Australia and New Zealand.Hawdon was born at Wackerfield, Durham, England, the son of John Hawdon. At the suggestion of his brother elder brother John , he decided to travel to Australia, arriving in Sydney in November 1834...
in 1838 drove cattle along the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
. The lake was named after Bonney. The land however, was settled in 1859 with the establishment of Overland Corner Hotel. It was a popular area with drovers that drove sheep from New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
into South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. A police station was also built to prevent and stop arguments between the indigenes and settlers.
An irrigation system was established in the town in 1921. The town became gazetted. An influx of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veterans settled with promises of irrigated land from the government. A railway station was opened in 1928 and the town was proclaimed in the same year. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
an interrment camp was established south of Barmera in Loveday
Loveday, South Australia
Loveday is a settlement in the Riverland region of South Australia, located south of Barmera and near the Murray River.Administratively it is part of the Berri Barmera Council LGA. At the 2006 census, Loveday had a population of 1,071.-History:...
and was one of the largest World War II camps in Australia.
Climate and Geography
Barmera exists in a semi-aridSemi-arid
A semi-arid climate or steppe climate describes climatic regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not extremely...
location, north of Goyder's Line
Goyder's Line
Goyder's Line is a boundary line across South Australia corresponding to a rainfall boundary believed to indicate the edge of the area suitable for agriculture. North of Goyder's Line, the rainfall is not reliable enough, and the land is only suitable for grazing and not cropping. The line traces a...
. Barmera is surrounded by mallee
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands is a Major Vegetation Group which occurs in semi-arid areas of southern Australia. The vegetation is dominated by mallee eucalypts which are rarely over 6 metres high...
scrub. It is 29 metres above sea level. Barmera has a dry climate with hot summers and warm days and cold frosty nights in winter with seasonal temperatures a few degrees above Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
's temperatures and similar to those of Berri
Berri, South Australia
Berri is a town in the Riverland region of South Australia. It is 238 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, the capital of the state of South Australia. It is primarily an agricultural and viticultural town on the north bank of the Murray River...
. The weather patterns are similar to those of Berri. It receives less than 250 mm of rain per annum. Rain patterns shift from year to year over a nineteen year cycle.
The Town Today
Attractions are Lake Bonney, which is good for fishing and sailing and sunsets at dusk, but there has been some problems with the Murray River with water shortage so they transferred most of the water in the river and cancelled of any water getting in, but now there has been a change with some water getting in every day due to protests and now making the lake nearly full. There is an irrigation and steam museum as well as wine estates. The Overland Corner is also a very popular attraction nearby with its own walking trail. There is also the remnants of a copper mine and historic graves.Every Easter, a sailing regatta is held on Lake Bonney and a country music festival is held every June. Riverland Field Days
Field day
Field days in Australia usually take place as part of an agricultural show, though field days focus on agricultural industry and equipment rather than livestock....
are held in September a Show is held in March.
Barmera is in the Berri Barmera Council
Berri Barmera Council
Berri Barmera Council is a local government area in the Riverland region of South Australia.The towns covered by the council area are Barmera, Berri, Cobdogla, Glossop, Loveday, Monash, Overland Corner and Winkie....
local government area, the South Australian House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
electoral district of Chaffey
Electoral district of Chaffey
Chaffey, created in 1936, is an electorate for the South Australian House of Assembly. It covers the Riverland region of South Australia and is named after brothers George and William Chaffey who established the irrigation area along the Murray River from 1886...
and the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
Division of Barker
Division of Barker
The Division of Barker is an Australian Electoral Division in the south-east of South Australia.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Collet Barker, an early explorer of the region at the mouth of the Murray River...
.
The town is home to the sporting teams Barmera/Monash Roos Football Club and the Barmera United Soccer Club.