Cowirra, South Australia : Geography, History Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cowirra, South Australia

Town in South Australia

34°54′14″S 139°19′59″E / 34.904°S 139.333°E / -34.904; 139.333Population155 (SAL 2021)^[1]Established1901Postcode(s)5238LGA(s)Mid Murray CouncilState electorate(s)Hammond Federal division(s)Barker

Localities around Cowirra:
		Frahns
Mannum, Bolto	Cowirra	Younghusband
	Ponde	Burdett

Footnotes^[2]

Cowirra is a locality in the Murraylands region of South Australia. It is on the left (east) bank of the Murray River, opposite Mannum.

Geography

Much of the river frontage is low-lying flats, laid out as long, narrow, irrigated paddocks between the river and the rising ground (or low cliffs) to the east. Cowirra includes the eastern landing points of the Mannum ferries, and the area known as Mannum East. The higher ground is used for a variety of farming activities, including sheep, grain, beef cattle and potatoes.

Downstream of the ferry landing is a separate locality named Bolto, consisting mainly of shacks near the river bank.

History

The township of Cowirra was laid out and named in 1901.^[3] Ten quarter-acre blocks sold for an average of 5 shillings above the reserve price of £2 10/ in April 1907.^[4] The boundaries of the locality were formalised in 2003.^[2]

The Cowirra Swamp was drained in 1919 to allow for controlled irrigation.^[5] Work commenced in 1916, but the flood of 1917 damaged the unfinished embankments, leading to fresh inundation.^[6] The reclaimed swamps were made available for soldier settlement following World War I.^[7]

References

^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Cowirra (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Placename Details: Cowirra (LOCB)". Property Location Browser Report. Government of South Australia. 4 March 2010. SA0016599. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
^ South Australia. Surveyor-General's Office; Vaughan, A. (Alfred) (1901). Cowirra : Hundred of Younghusband (Map). A. Vaughan, government photo-lithographer. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
^ "The Rush For Land". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XLIV, no. 13, 074. South Australia. 18 April 1907. p. 1 (4 o'clock.). Retrieved 11 April 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Cowirra Swamp". The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser. Vol. 39, no. 2033. South Australia. 26 September 1919. p. 1. Retrieved 11 April 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Danger Not Yet Passed". The Chronicle. Vol. LX, no. 3, 085. South Australia. 6 October 1917. p. 31. Retrieved 11 April 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Murray Lands". Daily Herald. Vol. X, no. 2869. South Australia. 31 May 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 11 April 2019 – via National Library of Australia.