| Renmark South Australia |
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A view of Renmark from the Murray River |
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Renmark
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| Population: | 4,339 (2006 Census)[1] | ||||||
| Established: | 1904 | ||||||
| Postcode: | 5341 | ||||||
| Elevation: | 31 m (102 ft) | ||||||
| Location: | 254 km (158 mi) from Adelaide | ||||||
| LGA: | District Council of Renmark Paringa | ||||||
| State District: | Chaffey | ||||||
| Federal Division: | Barker | ||||||
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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. It is the oldest European settlement on the River Murray. At the 2006 census, Renmark had a population of 4,339.[1]
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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.
The Renmark Hotel was the first community-owned hotel in the British Empire and became the town's major landmark.
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.[2]
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, although it has much more frosts in winter. The average winter maximum temperature is 16.2 °C and the average summer maximum temperature is 32.5 °C. Average rainfall of Renmark is 260.6 millimetres. The weather patterns are similar to those of Adelaide.
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.
Renmark has a newly renovated Big 4 holiday park on the river.
Renmark print a range of newspapers, such as The Murray Pioneer.
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