Waikerie, South Australia Explained

Type:town
Waikerie
State:sa
Lga:District Council of Loxton Waikerie
Postcode:5330
Coordinates:-34.1667°N 139.9833°W
Pushpin Label Position:left
Stategov:Chaffey
Fedgov:Barker
Dist1:173
Dir1:NE
Location1:Adelaide
Dist2:79
Dir2:W
Location2:Renmark

Waikerie is a rural town in the Riverland region of South Australia on the south bank of the Murray River. At the, Waikerie had a population of 2,684. The Sturt Highway passes to the south of the town at the top of the cliffs. There is a cable ferry crossing the river to provide vehicle access from the north side of the river. Waikerie is known for citrus growing, along with stone fruit and grapes.

Background

The Ngawait people have inhabited the area for millennia. The river and surrounding land provided everything they needed - fish, shellfish, birds, kangaroos, and native fruits.

The town of Waikerie derives its name from Weikari, which is claimed to mean 'the rising'. However some linguistic anthropologists argue that the name refers to the spider creator god from local creation myths.[1] These myths may originate in the emergence of many ghost moths (especially the giant swift moth Trictena argentata : Hepialidae) from the ground among the river red gums Eucalyptus camaldulensis after heavy rain.

Waikerie is in the District Council of Loxton Waikerie, the South Australian House of Assembly electoral district of Chaffey and the Australian House of Representatives Division of Barker. The historic former Irrigation Pumping Station Chimney in Scenic Lookout Reserve is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.[2]

Media

The main newspaper of the region is The River News, first published in July 1956 and founded as a direct result of the 1956 Murray River floods.

Transport

The Sturt Highway passes to the south of the town at the top of the cliffs. Waikerie was once the terminus of the Waikerie railway line from 1914 until 1990.

Waikerie Airport

Waikerie Airport is near Waikerie. It is home to the Waikerie Gliding Club. It has two runways 08/26 and 02/20. The flat dry terrain provides good thermals for gliding. Waikerie hosted the 14th World Gliding Championships in 1974.

Silo Art

In March 2019, the Waikerie silo art project was completed. South Australian artist Garry Duncan painted one silo with a semi-abstract river landscape and characterised native river creatures such as pelicans, ducks, frogs and rain moths. On the other silo, Jimmy Dvate from Melbourne painted a regent parrot, a yabby and the endangered Murray hardyhead fish.[3]

Sport

Waikerie is home to the Waikerie Football Club, who currently play in the (Australian Rules) Riverland Football League. Former Adelaide Crows captain Mark Ricciuto is from Waikerie and played junior football with the club.

Waikerie is also home to the 360m (1,180feet) Sunline Speedway. The speedway has been home to Super Sedan drivers Wally Francombe (supercharged EH Holden), Robert Gwynne (Chevrolet Camaro), Noel Reichstein (Chevrolet Corvette) and twice (and inaugural) Australian Street Stock Champion, Neil Hoffman and his Chrysler Centura. Other classes that race at the Speedway include Modified Sedans, Formula 500s, 360 Sprintcars, AMCA Nationals and Late Models.[4]

Notable people from Waikerie

Notable people born, went to school or lived in Waikerie include:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Peter K. Austin The Gamilaraay (Kamilaroi) Language, northern New South Wales – A Brief History of Research. James Cook University, 1988. http://www.hrelp.org/aboutus/staff/peter_austin/AustinGamil.pdf
  2. Web site: Former Irrigation Pumping Station Chimney, Waikerie . Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources . South Australian Heritage Register . 28 May 2016.
  3. Web site: Waikerie's silo art shares the wonder of majestic River Murray . September 2019 . 29 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Official Website for the Waikerie 'Sunline' Speedway. Official Website for the Waikerie 'Sunline' Speedway.
  5. Book: Gunn, John. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Anderson, Sir Donald George (Don) (1917–1975). National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Australian Dictionary of Biography.
  6. Web site: The Authority. 16 October 2015. mdba.gov.au.
  7. Web site: Riverland residents' community efforts recognised. 28 January 2013. ABC News.
  8. Web site: Rick Darling's Profile, Batting Statistics, Fielding Statistics, Bowling Statistics - Warrick Maxwell Darling - Australia - www.cricstats.in. cricstats.in.
  9. Web site: Ken I'Anson - Grasstrack GB. grasstrackgb.co.uk.
  10. Web site: Servant of the Riverland. 2023-11-20 .
  11. Web site: About the Society. Royal Society of South Australia.
  12. Web site: John T. Jennings - Wikispecies.
  13. Web site: Australian Football - Kym Lehmann - Player Bio. australianfootball.com.
  14. News: Family Notices . . South Australia . 13 June 1946 . 18 June 2019 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
  15. Web site: Chris Western . Offroadracing.com.au . 28 August 2021.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Waikerie, South Australia".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.