Renmark, South Australia

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Renmark
state = sa

---

caption = Renmark Hotel was the first community-owned hotel in the British Empire
lga = District Council of Renmark Paringa
postcode = 5341
pop = 8,054
est = 1904
elevation= 31
maxtemp = 24.3
mintemp = 10.9
rainfall = 260.6
stategov = Chaffey
fedgov = Barker
dist1 = 254
location1= Adelaide

Renmark is a town in South Australia's rural Riverland area, and is located 254 km northeast of Adelaide, on the banks of the River Murray. The Sturt Highway between Adelaide and Sydney runs through the town; Renmark is the last major town encountered in South Australia when driving this route. It is 31 m above sea level. As of 2000, the population of Renmark (combined with the neighbouring settlement of Lyrup) was 8,054. It is the oldest European settlement on the River Murray.

History

The name Renmark refers to an Aboriginal word meaning "Red Mud" - the original inhabitants of the area were the Naralte tribe.

Captain Charles Sturt was the first European to pass though the area in January 1830, as he navigated the length of the Murray from the Great Dividing Range, eventually reaching Lake Alexandrina.

A settlement began to grow in 1887, when the Renmark Irrigation Settlement was established by George and William Chaffey, who created a system of open drains using water from the Murray, to allow orchards to be planted in the area. By pumping water onto the hot red sand they transformed it into a fruit growing area similar to California. Renmark was proclaimed a town in 1904 and a municipality in 1935.

Bush poet and soldier Breaker Morant worked locally, at the Paringa Station in the 1890s, before serving in the Boer War.

Renmark is famous among Australian youth for being the closest town to the vineyard on which the concept of box wine or goon was invented in 1965.

Renmark was connected by rail on 31 January, 1927. ["Rails into Renmark" Shields, Brian Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, February, 1999 pp43-51]

Climate and geography

Renmark exists in a semi-arid location, above Goyder's Line. Renmark is surrounded by mallee scrub. Renmark has a dry Mediterranean climate with seasonal temperatures a few degrees above Adelaide's temperatures. The average winter temperature is 16.2 °C and the average summer temperature is 32.5 °C. Average rainfall of Renmark is 260.6 millimetres. The weather patterns are similar to those of Adelaide.

Renmark today

Renmark is a multicultural centre for the Riverland area. It consists of elegant wide streets. The river itself offers excellent spots for fishing, waterskiing and boating.

The area is known for the cultivation of grapes, citrus fruits, tomatoes, vegetables, wheat and wool. Orange trees stretch for hectares as do vineyards and stone fruit orchards. Other industries include almond growing and pistachio nut cultivation.

Renmark is also home to a wildlife park, wine companies and the rose industry. Renmark hosts the Renmark Rose Festival every October.

In late 2007, a shopping complex featuring Big W and Woolworths opened to the community of Renmark.

Governance

The town falls within the boundaries of the District Council of Renmark Paringa. It is in the State electorate of Chaffey and the federal division of Barker.

ee also

*1956 Murray River flood
*River Murray Crossings

References

External links and references

* [http://theage.com.au/news/South-Australia/Renmark/2005/02/17/1108500204654.html/ The Age travelguide - Renmark]
* [http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_024016.shtml/ Bureau of Meteorology: Renmark Weather Statistics]