The biennial Wooden Boat Festival will be the backdrop of a celebration on Saturday 26 April to officially open an $18 million upgrade of the historic Goolwa Wharf Precinct. 

Representatives from the federal and state governments will join Alexandrina Council in unveiling a plaque recognising the work done on this major project to restore, renovate and protect Goolwa Wharf, the Wharf Shed, the Signal Point Experience Centre and the surrounds of the heritage-listed precinct. 

This project was made possible with $3.75 million in funding from the federal government and $1.25 million from the state government.

Federal funding of $980,000 was also provided through the Murray–Darling Basin Economic Development Program to create the permanent interactive exhibition Yuntulun Ku:li-war, the centrepiece of the upgraded Signal Point Experience Centre. 

It tells the stories of the Ngarrindjeri people of the region, the early settlement history of Goolwa as a major river port and the ecology of the Murray–Darling River system. 

“Built in 1852, the Goolwa Wharf is a living testament to the steam power era and the early history of South Australia. It has been a long-term goal of the Alexandrina community to protect this special place for future generations,” says Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes. 

“This multi-million investment by all three tiers of government has preserved the heritage of the precinct, improved safety and accessibility for the community, and provided opportunities to activate the area through new business opportunities, festivals and community events and to share the stories of First Nations people, the steam-powered riverport history and the river ecology of the area. 

“We value our heritage in Alexandrina but it is always challenging to work on historic sites. We could not have achieved this ambitious project without our Federal and State funding partners so we thank them sincerely for their support. 

“We also thank everyone who worked on this project. The Goolwa Wharf decking construction alone involves enough timber that - if lined up end-to-end - it would reach from Goolwa to Middleton and halfway back again, some 9,030 linear metres of timber! 

“Our main contractor McMahon Services did a great job. They began dismantling the State Heritage-listed Wharf Shed for refurbishment in mid-November 2023. Each individual component of the shed was identified through 3D scanning and taken off- site to be restored and reused, if possible. 

“Timbers from the wharf and the shed that could not be used but could be repurposed have found new life in different parts of the precinct, including the bumpers in the car parks. 

“The precinct looks amazing, and we’re just delighted that we can mark the finishing line of this project at our South Australian Wooden Boat Festival which celebrates the rich history of river boating and boatbuilding traditions at the historic river port of Goolwa.” 

The entire project included reconstruction of the heritage-listed Wharf, renovation and renewal of the heritage-listed Wharf Shed, new public toilets, pathways and signage and improvements to the Signal Point Experience Centre. 

The Goolwa Wharf Precinct is located at ‘The Meeting of the Waters’, a significant site for the Ngarrindjeri people where the Murray River met the Coorong, allowing significant fish species to reproduce. 

The original Goolwa Wharf Precinct was central to the development of South Australia. Its establishment was critical for trade, industry, and development of the state of South Australia and the Murray River trade corridor. 

During its heyday from the 1850s to the 1880s Goolwa was one of Australia's most important river ports. The original wharf was built in 1852. The inner part of the town of Goolwa was declared a State Heritage Area in 1987. 

The Official Wharf Lunch and opening of the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival is scheduled for 11.30am on Saturday 26 April at the Goolwa Wharf Precinct. For more information regarding the festival program, visit the website.