Monarto, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Monarto is a region and formerly proposed city in South Australia
. It is north of the South Eastern Freeway
between the Callington
and Murray Bridge
exits 63 km from Adelaide
.
The land was acquired by the Dunstan
state government
in the 1970s to create a new city in an effort to limit the continued sprawl of Adelaide
. Trees were planted and plans made between 1973 and 1976 with the project receiving A$10.5 million in Commonwealth funding under the 'new cities programme' of the Whitlam
Federal Government. However, the plan was eventually cancelled in 1980. This would have been similar to the 1950s Playford
government's successful establishment of Elizabeth
to the north of Adelaide, although the urban sprawl has since extended to encompass Elizabeth. Monarto would be on the eastern side of the Mount Lofty Ranges
, creating a natural barrier to keep the two cities separate.
Unfortunately for Monarto residents, the plan never came to fruition. A large portion of the land has now been taken up by the Monarto Zoo
, established in 1983. There are several conservation parks in Monarto - mainly in Monarto South. These parks are often visited by Bush Walkers and Bird Watchers. An industrial estate has also been established at Monarto as part of the growth of the city of Murray Bridge.
Big W
have a distribution center
located at Monarto. Other large companies with warehousing in Monarto include Scotts Transport, Holden
and Inghams
Monarto is adjacent to the main Adelaide to Melbourne railway line, and was formerly a junction for a branch line running north on the plain between the Murray River
and the Mount Lofty Ranges. Currently Ferries McDonald Road in Monarto South is in the process of receiving approval for a road upgrade, specifically a bitumization of the road. Due to a colony or colonies of Mallee Fowl the project has had to go through several iterations to ensure that the environmental impact is minimized. This will create a transport link from Langhorne Creek to the Barossa.
The Murray Bridge Council
are the project managers of this project.
Monarto is home to the Murray Bridge Motocross Club with a track that runs both bikes and quad bikes
, and the Monarto Shooting Club.
Most of the residents of Monarto run small hobby like farms, raising cows, sheep and horses. Crops in the area include wheat, oats and barley.
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 north of the South Eastern Freeway
South Eastern Freeway
The South Eastern Freeway is a 66 kilometre four-lane divided carriageway road in South Australia linking the Adelaide-Crafers Highway to the Princes Highway at the Swanport Bridge, a one kilometre long bridge over the River Murray, near Murray Bridge...
between the Callington
Callington, South Australia
Callington is a small town in the Adelaide Hills, in South Australia. Callington is situated on the Bremer River, and is adjacent to the South Eastern Freeway. Callington is located within the state electoral district of Kavel and the federal division of Mayo...
and Murray Bridge
Murray Bridge, South Australia
Murray Bridge is the fourth most populous city in South Australia after Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla. It is located east-southeast of Adelaide and north of Meningie....
exits 63 km from 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 land was acquired by the Dunstan
Don Dunstan
Donald Allan "Don" Dunstan, AC, QC was a South Australian politician. He entered politics as the Member for Norwood in 1953, became state Labor leader in 1967, and was Premier of South Australia between June 1967 and April 1968, and again between June 1970 and February 1979.The son of a business...
state government
Government of South Australia
The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
in the 1970s to create a new city in an effort to limit the continued sprawl 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...
. Trees were planted and plans made between 1973 and 1976 with the project receiving A$10.5 million in Commonwealth funding under the 'new cities programme' of the Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
Federal Government. However, the plan was eventually cancelled in 1980. This would have been similar to the 1950s Playford
Thomas Playford IV
Sir Thomas Playford, GCMG was a South Australian politician. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia from 5 November 1938 to 10 March 1965, the longest term of any elected government leader in the history of Australia. His tenure as premier was marked by a period of population and...
government's successful establishment of Elizabeth
Elizabeth, South Australia
Elizabeth is a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Playford.-History:Elizabeth was established in 1955 as part of a planned satellite town by the South Australian Housing Trust on rural land between the older towns of Salisbury and...
to the north of Adelaide, although the urban sprawl has since extended to encompass Elizabeth. Monarto would be on the eastern side of the Mount Lofty Ranges
Mount Lofty Ranges
The Mount Lofty Ranges are the range of mountains just to the east of Adelaide in South Australia.-Location and description:The Mount Lofty Ranges stretch from the southernmost point of the Fleurieu Peninsula at Cape Jervis northwards for over before petering out north of Peterborough...
, creating a natural barrier to keep the two cities separate.
Unfortunately for Monarto residents, the plan never came to fruition. A large portion of the land has now been taken up by the Monarto Zoo
Monarto Zoo
Monarto Zoological Park is an open-range animal sanctuary that is administered by the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia, along with the Adelaide Zoo. It has an area of . It is located in Monarto, approximately from the city of Adelaide...
, established in 1983. There are several conservation parks in Monarto - mainly in Monarto South. These parks are often visited by Bush Walkers and Bird Watchers. An industrial estate has also been established at Monarto as part of the growth of the city of Murray Bridge.
Big W
Big W
Big W is one of the largest chain of discount department stores in Australia, with over 150 stores. It is a division of Woolworths Limited, the second largest retailer in Australia. Its main competitors are Kmart and Target, both owned by Wesfarmers....
have a distribution center
Distribution center
A distribution center for a set of products is a warehouse or other specialized building, often with refrigeration or air conditioning, which is stocked with products to be redistributed to retailers, to wholesalers, or directly to consumers. A distribution center is a principal part, the order...
located at Monarto. Other large companies with warehousing in Monarto include Scotts Transport, Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
and Inghams
Monarto is adjacent to the main Adelaide to Melbourne railway line, and was formerly a junction for a branch line running north on the plain between 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...
and the Mount Lofty Ranges. Currently Ferries McDonald Road in Monarto South is in the process of receiving approval for a road upgrade, specifically a bitumization of the road. Due to a colony or colonies of Mallee Fowl the project has had to go through several iterations to ensure that the environmental impact is minimized. This will create a transport link from Langhorne Creek to the Barossa.
The Murray Bridge Council
Rural City of Murray Bridge
The Rural City of Murray Bridge is the local government area in South Australia that contains the city of Murray Bridge and suburbs: White Hill, Gifford Hill, Swanport, Long Flat, Riverglades, Avoca Dell, Willowbanks, SunnySide, Northern Heights, Rocky Gully, Mobilong and Monarto South.Surrounding...
are the project managers of this project.
Monarto is home to the Murray Bridge Motocross Club with a track that runs both bikes and quad bikes
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
, and the Monarto Shooting Club.
Most of the residents of Monarto run small hobby like farms, raising cows, sheep and horses. Crops in the area include wheat, oats and barley.