- Distance
- 1.3 km circuit
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Type
- Self-guided heritage walk with brochure
- Suitable for
- Walking, Wheelchair Accessible, Dog Walking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Terrain
- Flat
- Region
- Fleurieu Peninsula
- Download maps & GPS files
- 2 GPS files
- 1 website link
- Photos
- 7 photosJump to Photos section
- Travel options
- Car
- Travel time from Adelaide
- 1-2 hours
About the Historical walk
This self-guided historical walk explores the Goolwa Wharf and Railway Precinct, established in the 1840s and 50s. With the navigation of the Murray River accomplished in 1851, the construction of a horse-drawn railway was commenced linking the river port here at Goolwa to the sea port at Port Elliot.
Explore 19 historical sites, including the original official buildings such as the Post and Telgraph Office, Customs House, former Police Station & Courthouse, the Morgue, the railway buildings and wharf buildings.
Each is signposted with an interpretive sign detailing stories about the construction and use of the buildings.
The inner part of Goolwa was declared a State Heritage Area in 1987, recognising its historical importance as one of the country’s most significant River Ports.
This is a series of three historical walks in Goolwa:
- Walk 1, Cadell Street
- Walk 2, Goolwa Wharf Precinc (walk on this page)
- Walk 3, Little Scotland
Photos
Railway Superintendent's Cottage, built in 1852. The railway was built quickly, and local building materials were difficult to source, so the roof of this cottage was built as a barrelled roof to save materials
The former Police Station and Courthouse was erected in 1857. It has it's own well, prison cells and stables. The building is now used as an arts centre
The Goolwa Customs House was built in 1859, and collected custom duties from river trade until 1894
The morgue was built in 1883 following a public outcry that the cellars in the hotels were being used as makeshift morgues. Death by drowning or boat-buidling accidents were common, and the morgue was in use until 1956
The Goolway & Port Elliot Railway Horse Stables, build in 1862 and now used as the local RSL
Historic ship building site at Goolwa Wharf
The railway station beside the Goods Shed was constructed in 1915 when the passenger station was relocated from near the main street to the wharf