Renmark Scenic Drive

 It was a very bleak day today with intermittent showers, so for us this is the perfect day to hit the road for a little scenic driving.  We had not yet visited Renmark and as it is only 20 or so kilometres from Berri it was a good choice.  The first place we visit is the Renmark Information Centre.  It is always a good starting point and it is in the main area of Renmark so it is a great spot to stretch our legs while we have a little clear sky.  The roses are out in bloom and I read on a sign that Renmark hosts a Rose Show each spring so I imagine the town will look spectacular when it is in full rose bloom!

I have picked up a Renmark & Surrounds map from the information centre and we highlight a couple of places to visit on a wet day.  There are two lookouts and we will try our luck at them but don't like our chances of the weather clearing enough for us to have any sort of view.  We are correct with our assumptions when we come to the first lookout at Renmark.  The rain is tumbling down and even though we wait in the car for ten minutes the rain does not abate, so it is off to our next destination that is Lock 5 & Bunyip Barge.

In order for us to reach Lock 5 we have to once again cross the Murray River, this time via the Paringa Bridge.  It is a magnificent suspension bridge with a section of it able to be lifted to allow houseboats under.  It was built in 1927 and remains original design with a rail track running through the middle and two narrow roads either side.  As there are now no trains crossing here, it has become a pedestrian passageway.

Lock 5 and Bunyip Barge are just down the road from the bridge.  Unfortunately there are no houseboats in the Lock.  Philip is desperate to see one move through the lock but that but we will have to wait until we get to Mildura where we are booked on an afternoon paddle ship cruise that takes us through one lock.  The old Bunyip Barge sits proudly on the bank beside the lock and if she could only talk, she would have quite a tale to tell.

Headings Cliff Lookout is our next destination and we are once again plagued by the rain but fortunately we have a brief respite that allows us to climb to the top of the tower at the lookout and are rewarded with some spectacular views towards the red cliff faces along the Mighty Murray River.

It is now close to lunchtime so we head back to Renmark to the historical Renmark Hotel for lunch. The hotel has a very colourful past with many notable people gracing its doorway from Royals to PM's and everyone in between.  A section of the 1st floor has been turned into a small museum showing patrons what the hotel and life looked like back in 1897 when the hotel was built.  Also of interest, it was the first British Community owned hotel.

(I had this exact same washing machine when I first moved to "Caleewa".  I was terrified of the damn thing when I was putting clothes through the wringer section......)

Just across the road from the Renmark Hotel is the Murray River and we found a flood level marker.  We have heard all sorts of conflicting reports about river flood heights.  Some say that 2022 was the largest on record and others 1956.  This marker proved once and for all that 1956 was the biggest flood on record.

Our last tourist attraction today was Olivewood Historic Homestead and Museum.  It was on the way home so an easy stop for us but unfortunately it was closed.  However, we got to walk around the old homestead that is, interestingly, built out of logs rather than the sandstone that we have seen everywhere else in South Australia.  The heritage listed home was built by the Canadian Charles Chaffey who together with his brothers George and William, were the first to establish the Renmark and Mildura Irrigation Colonies in 1880.