Swanport Wetland

Where is it?: Swanport Wetland is situated between the Princess Highway and the River Murray adjacent to the Swanport Bridge. Eco toilets and a picnic area can be found in the higher area. There is also a boardwalk over some of the wetlands and a bird hide.

Access and Parking:  Access to the wetland is off the South Eastern Freeway (Princess Highway) on the left hand side between the Swanport Bridge and Tailem Bend. Car parking is available near the entrance.

Property summary: Total area 19.4 hectares.  Allotment 12, Sections 448, 451 and 543, Hundred of Burdett.

Owner: Crown Land under care and control of The Rural City of Murray Bridge (Sections 448, 451 and 543)¹. The Rural City of Murray Bridge (Allotment 12) (Senior Property Administrator, email, 21 September 2020).

Landscape Management Region: Murraylands and Riverland

History: Part of the area was known as Miss Gawler’s Island² and later as Miss Gawler’s Island Reserve³. In 1896 Section 125 and part Section 130 (now Allotment 12 and Sections 451 and 543), Hundred of Burdett were proclaimed a Water Reserve ⁴.

On 16 February 1955 the land comprising the whole of the water reserve adjoining Section 130, Hundred of Burdett was resumed and this land as Section 451 was declared a Recreation Reserve under the care, control, and management of the District Council of Mobilong followed by Section 453 on 8 February 1968 .  

Section 448 was declared a Recreation Reserve under the care, control, and management of the District Council of Murray Bridge on 15 February 1979

Habitat: Almost two-thirds of the area adjacent to the River Murray is open woodland of River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) with patches of Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florentula) and Common Reed (Phragmites australis). An odd Weeping Willow (*Salix babylonica) can still be found adjacent to the River Murray. The higher area was planted with mallee (Eucalyptus sp.) in 1991.

Total Species Recorded to Date: 75 (non-passerines 45, passerines 30)

Common Species: Pacific Black Duck,

Superb Fairywren, Whistling Kite, New Holland Honeyeater, Welcome Swallow, Australasian Swamphen

Less Common Species: Hoary-headed Grebe, Australian Boobook, Australian Hobby, Noisy Miner, Rufous Whistler

References:
 ¹ Community Land Register 2018. The Rural City of Murray Bridge. [Murray Bridge, South Australia].

 ² Management Plans for Reserves. ( The Rural City of Murray Bridge. [Murray Bridge, South Australia].

 ² Map – Hundred of Burdett.

 ³ South Australia Company. (c. 1850) Tracing showing sections in the Hundreds of Mobilong and Burdett (parts).

 ⁴ Reserve Dedicated and Placed Under the Control of the District Council of Mobilong. The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. 41: 819. (1 October 1896)

   ⁴ Crown Lands Act, 1929-1944. Hundred of Burdett—Resumption of Water Reserve and Recreation Reserve Dedicated.The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. 25: 1391, 1392. (16 June 1955)

 ⁴ Crown Lands Act, 1929-1967: Hundred of Burdett—Recreation Reserve Dedicated. The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. 6: 344. (8 February 1968)

 ⁴ Crown Lands Act, 1929-1978: Hundred of Burdett- Recreation Reserve Dedicated.The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. 8: 348. (15 February 1979)

Updated: 13/08/2021