Paringa, South Australia

Paringa
South Australia

Paringa bridge across the Murray River
Paringa
Coordinates 34°10′S 140°47′E / 34.167°S 140.783°E / -34.167; 140.783Coordinates: 34°10′S 140°47′E / 34.167°S 140.783°E / -34.167; 140.783
Population 946 (2006 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 5340
Time zone ACST (UTC+9:30)
 • Summer (DST) ACDT (UTC+10:30)
LGA(s) Renmark Paringa Council
State electorate(s) Chaffey
Federal Division(s) Barker

Paringa is a small town in the Riverland of South Australia. Paringa is famous for its vineyards, almond, citrus and stone fruit orchards, and the steel bridge with a span that can be raised to allow houseboats and paddlesteamers to pass underneath and across the Murray River to Renmark.[2] At the 2006 census, Paringa had a population of 946.[1]

Railway

Further information: Barmera railway line

The railway line from Tailem Bend was extended north to Paringa soon after it had reached the Brown's Well district, with the official opening on 3 October 1913.[3] However it took another 14 years for the railway to cross the river, when the bridge and the railway to Renmark opened in January 1927.[4] The railway eventually extended to Barmera by August 1928.

The Paringa bridge was designed to carry a single railway line in the centre, with a road lane on each side of it. It has a total of six spans, including one lift span to allow river traffic to pass underneath.[5] It was opened on 31 January 1927, enabling the railway to extend to Renmark.[4]

The railway has closed, but the bridge continues to carry the Sturt Highway as part of the main road link between Adelaide and Sydney.

The town today

Paringa today is a satellite town to the much larger Renmark, 4 km downstream. It boasts a pub, general store, museum and antiques shop. It is a service centre for the large agricultural enterprises on the Murtho and Lindsay Point roads. There is a beautiful picnic area on the riverfront adjacent to the Bridge. Many new homes have been built in Paringa in recent years.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Paringa (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  2. ↑ The Paringa Lift Span Bridge Shields, Brian Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, April, 1998 pp139-142
  3. ↑ "PARINGA RAILWAY.". The Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 1 October 1913. p. 11. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 "THE PARINGA BRIDGE.". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 31 January 1927. p. 8. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION OF PARINGA BRIDGE AND PARINGA TO RENMARK RAILWAY.". Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA: National Library of Australia). 28 January 1927. p. 7. Retrieved 2 July 2014.


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