Barmera (postcode 5345) is a town in the Riverland region of South Australia. It is 221 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, the capital of the state of South Australia. It is primarily a agricultural and viticultural town and is located on Lake Bonney, a freshwater lake. The population is about 4000.
History
No one knows where the name 'Barmera' comes from but it is suspected that it means 'water place' or 'land dwellers', being a word from a local Aboriginal group. Other postulate it comes from Barmeedjie, the name of the tribe that lived to the north of the Murray River prior to European settlement.
Lake Bonney was first seen by Charles Bonney and Joseph Hawdon in 1838 drove cattle along the Murray River. The lake was named after Bonney. The land however, was settled in 1859 with the establishment of Overland Corner Hotel. It was a popular area with drovers that drove sheep from New South Wales into South Australia. A police station was also built to prevent and stop arguments between the indigeneous and settlers.
An irrigation system was established in the town in 1921. The town became gazetted. An influx of World War I veterans settled with promises of irrigated land from the government. A railway station was opened in 1928 and the town was proclaimed in the same year.
Climate and Geography
Barmera exists in a semi-arid location, north of Goyder's Line. Barmera is surrounded by mallee scrub. It is 29 metres above sea level. Barmera has a dry climate with hot summers and warm days and cold frosty nights in winter with seasonal temperatures a few degrees above Adelaide's temperatures and similar to those of Berri. The weather patterns are similar to those of Berri. It receives less than 250mm of rain per annum. Rain patterns shift from year to year over a nineteen year cycle.
The Town Today
Attractions are Lake Bonney, which is good for fishing and sailing and sunsets at dusk. There is an irrigation and steam museum as well as wine estates. The Overland Corner is also a very popular attraction nearby with its own walking trail. There is also the remnants of a copper mine and historic graves.
Every Easter, a sailing regatta is held on Lake Bonney and a country music festival is held every June. Riverland Field Days are held in September a Show is held in March.
Barmera is in the Berri Barmera Council local government area, the South Australian House of Assembly electoral district of Chaffey and the Australian House of Representatives Division of Barker.
