Murray Bridge was proclaimed in 1884 but settlement long preceded that. The road bridge over the Murray opened in 1879 and the original rail bridge in 1886, providing a vital link to Victoria. The town today is substantial and growing. There is a considerable amount of fine old housing left in the town but much of the commercial centre has been substantially redeveloped. There are a few examples of colonial ecclesiastical buildings remaining, including Australia's smallest cathedral church, which is unfortunately too difficult to photograph. On a visit in 2008 I was impresssed by the degree to which the town has spruced itself up. The nearby South Eastern Freeway is turning the town into a commuter suburb of Adelaide, with rising house values.

The nearby town of Wellington is also on the Murray and has had a ferry since 1849. However the place is barely a village today, although on the Eastern side of the River there is a pleasant man-made marina and settlement, with a most congenial cafe overlooking the water.

The colonial authorities saw the river crossing as an ideal spot to build a Courthouse, Police Station and Post Office. This building is now an excellent museum, B&B and cafe. The cafes and the river crossing make this a most relaxing place to visit !

Holiday visitors travelling from the south east corner of Australia (eg Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales) could do a lot worse than to cross the Murray at Wellington and detour via the Fleurieu Peninsula, rather than heading straight for Adelaide along the Freeway.

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