Morgan, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Morgan is a town in South Australia
on the right bank of the Murray River
, just downstream of where it turns from flowing roughly westwards to roughly southwards. It is about 161 kilometres (100 mi) north east of Adelaide
, and about 315 kilometres (195.7 mi) upstream of the Murray Mouth
. At the 2006 census
, Morgan had a population of 426.
The town was proclaimed in 1878, the year the railway line from Adelaide via Kapunda was opened. A large wharf
was built, and Morgan became one of the busiest port
s on the Murray. At its peak, Morgan was the second busiest port in South Australia (behind only Port Adelaide
), with six train
s a day carrying freight from the Murray to the sea at Port Adelaide. As road transport
improved through the early part of the 20th century, river transport declined. The railway to Morgan finally closed in 1969.
Morgan is also well known for its number of houseboats, and a houseboat marina
is currently under construction
.
Many of the old buildings remain in the town. A number of the buildings have signs showing their former use and appearance. Morgan is in the Mid Murray Council
local government area, the state electoral district of Stuart
, and the federal Division of Barker
.
During World War II
, a water pipeline
was built from the Murray River at Morgan to supply fresh water to the city of Whyalla
.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
on the right bank of the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
, just downstream of where it turns from flowing roughly westwards to roughly southwards. It is about 161 kilometres (100 mi) north east of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, and about 315 kilometres (195.7 mi) upstream of the Murray Mouth
Murray Mouth
Murray Mouth is the point at which the River Murray meets the southern Southern Ocean. The Murray Mouth's location is changeable. Historical records show that the channel out to sea moves along the sand dunes over time...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Morgan had a population of 426.
The town was proclaimed in 1878, the year the railway line from Adelaide via Kapunda was opened. A large wharf
Wharf
A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...
was built, and Morgan became one of the busiest port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
s on the Murray. At its peak, Morgan was the second busiest port in South Australia (behind only Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a suburb of Adelaide lying about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and is the main port for the city of Adelaide...
), with six train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s a day carrying freight from the Murray to the sea at Port Adelaide. As road transport
Road transport
Road transport or road transportation is transport on roads of passengers or goods. A hybrid of road transport and ship transport is the historic horse-drawn boat.-History:...
improved through the early part of the 20th century, river transport declined. The railway to Morgan finally closed in 1969.
Morgan is also well known for its number of houseboats, and a houseboat marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
is currently under construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
.
Many of the old buildings remain in the town. A number of the buildings have signs showing their former use and appearance. Morgan is in the Mid Murray Council
Mid Murray Council
Mid Murray Council was formed in 1997 from the amalgamation of the former District Councils of Mannum, Morgan, Ridley-Truro and part of the District Council of Mount Pleasant....
local government area, the state electoral district of Stuart
Electoral district of Stuart
Stuart is an electorate for the South Australian House of Assembly. It covers the northeast part of the state extending from just north of the Barossa Valley all the way to the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales borders, and extending west to include Port Augusta...
, and the federal Division of Barker
Division of Barker
The Division of Barker is an Australian Electoral Division in the south-east of South Australia.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Collet Barker, an early explorer of the region at the mouth of the Murray River...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a water pipeline
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
was built from the Murray River at Morgan to supply fresh water to the city of Whyalla
Whyalla, South Australia
-Demographics:According to the 2006 Census the population of the Whyalla census area was 21,122 people, making it the second largest urban area in the state outside of Adelaide...
.