Riverton, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Riverton is a small town of distinctive character and interest to travellers in the Mid North
of South Australia
, in the Gilbert Valley. It is situated on the Gilbert River
, from which the town derives its name. At the 2006 census
, Riverton had a population of 723.
Riverton was first settled in 1856, as a settlement along the bullock track from the mining town of Burra
to the capital city Adelaide
. It grew from a plan designed by a James Masters who had established the nearby town of Saddleworth
.
The streets of Riverton received their names chiefly from James Masters and his friends. They commemorate persons notable in the history of the district or the State.
Both the Gilbert Valley and Gilbert River were named after South Australian pioneer, Thomas Gilbert
.
The Riverton Hotel, originally known as the Riverton Arms, opened for business in 1855, although the building was not completed until 1857. This hotel, and the abovemention two shops, were the only business places in 1857.
Local Government was proclaimed in July 1866, the first Court House and Police Station were opened that same year, the new Post Office and the Community Hall were both built in 1874.
through the Gilbert Valley. The authorities wisely decided on the second course because that would open up thousands of acres of good agricultural land and new towns would grow along the route.
It was a fortunate decision for Riverton. The railway was opened to Tarlee
in 1868, Riverton on 20 December 1869 and Manoora
in 1870.
Railway workshops were immediately set up in Riverton. This swelled the population and sharply increased trade generally in the town. However, the workshops closed in 1878.
In 1918, the branch line to Clare
was opened and later extended to Spalding
. This branch made it necessary for more railway employees to live at Riverton. In 1965, there were 25 railway employees and their families living in Riverton.
Riverton station was the scene of an attempted mass shooting in 1921. A passenger who was travelling on the Broken Hill Express from Adelaide fired a number of shots into the dining room and Percy Brookfield
, a Member of Parliament for Broken Hill, was shot and killed when he tried to disarm the gunman.
The station buildings were astonishingly massive — the finest outside Adelaide. The Refreshment Rooms were open for all passenger trains. At one time, passenger trains passing through Riverton had connections at Terowie
to Broken Hill
, Alice Springs
and Perth
. The Refreshment Rooms served a 3-course Dinner to East-West passengers and Breakfast to Broken Hill passengers. Additionally, refreshments were served to passengers on all other trains.
It now houses delightful tea-rooms, a gallery and bed and breakfast accommodation. You can also sleep in the tastefully converted old railway carriages.
The railways played a major part in the development of Riverton, both as a transport provider and as an employer.
local government area, the state electoral district of Frome
and the federal
Division of Wakefield
.
Liberal
politician Trish Worth
was born in Riverton.
Mid North
The Mid North is a region of South Australia, north of the Adelaide Plains, but not as far north as the Far North, or outback. It is generally accepted to extend from Spencer Gulf east to the Barrier Highway, including the coastal plain, the southern part of the Flinders Ranges, and the northern...
of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, in the Gilbert Valley. It is situated on the Gilbert River
Gilbert River (South Australia)
The Gilbert River is a river in the Mid North region of South Australia. It rises near Manoora on the Barrier Highway and flows south through Saddleworth, Riverton, Tarlee then southwest through Stockport and Hamley Bridge. It merges with the Light River just downstream of Hamley Bridge. The Light...
, from which the town derives its name. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Riverton had a population of 723.
Riverton was first settled in 1856, as a settlement along the bullock track from the mining town of Burra
Burra, South Australia
Burra is a pastoral centre and historic tourist town in the mid-north of South Australia. It lies east of the Clare Valley in the Bald Hills range, part of the northern Mount Lofty Ranges, and on Burra Creek. The town began as a single company mining township that, by 1851, was a set of townships ...
to the capital city Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. It grew from a plan designed by a James Masters who had established the nearby town of Saddleworth
Saddleworth, South Australia
Saddleworth is a small town in the Mid North region of South Australia. The town is situated on the Gilbert River and along with neighbouring towns of Riverton, Rhynie and Tarlee the local area is known as the Gilbert Valley. The town in bisected by the Barrier Highway...
.
The streets of Riverton received their names chiefly from James Masters and his friends. They commemorate persons notable in the history of the district or the State.
Both the Gilbert Valley and Gilbert River were named after South Australian pioneer, Thomas Gilbert
Thomas Gilbert (pioneer)
Thomas Gilbert was a pioneer of Adelaide, South Australia, having arrived with the first settlers in order to operate the first Colonial Storehouse....
.
The First Storekeeper
The first storekeeper in the town, John Jubb Horner, arrived in South Australia in 1853 and soon made his way with his family to Riverton. His store, built in the early 1850s, was situated at the south end of the town. His store was the commercial emporium of Riverton, where the settlers would gather for social intercourse as well as business. This store was also the original Post Office, Telegraph Office, and Registry for Births Marriages and Deaths. The only other shop in the town in the early 1850s was owned by a shoemaker, a Mr. Payne.The Riverton Hotel, originally known as the Riverton Arms, opened for business in 1855, although the building was not completed until 1857. This hotel, and the abovemention two shops, were the only business places in 1857.
Local Government was proclaimed in July 1866, the first Court House and Police Station were opened that same year, the new Post Office and the Community Hall were both built in 1874.
Minerals
In 1897, it was reported that miners were engaged in opening up a mineral show in the hills about 5 miles (8 km) east of Riverton, resulting in what appeared to be a permanent lode of copper and silver lead. Samples were sent for assaying and the results were promising, silver and lead definitely being present. However no developments took place, which indicates that the lode could not have been as extensive as appeared at first. Even by 1965, fossickers still gleaned a little from this mineral deposit.The Railway
The transport problems for the Kapunda miners had been eased in 1860 when the railway reached there. The question was whether the line should continue from Kapunda northwards along the valley of the River Light to Burra, or whether another line should stretch northwards from GawlerGawler, South Australia
Gawler is the first country town in the state of South Australia, and is named after the second Governor of the colony of South Australia, George Gawler. It is located north of the centre of the state capital, Adelaide, and is close to the major wine producing district of the Barossa Valley...
through the Gilbert Valley. The authorities wisely decided on the second course because that would open up thousands of acres of good agricultural land and new towns would grow along the route.
It was a fortunate decision for Riverton. The railway was opened to Tarlee
Tarlee, South Australia
Tarlee is a town in South Australia. The origin of the name is uncertain, but it is thought to be a corruption of the name Tralee in Ireland. The town is in the lower Mid North region where Main North Road crosses the Gilbert River. It is approximately 8 km south of Giles Corner, where the...
in 1868, Riverton on 20 December 1869 and Manoora
Manoora, South Australia
Manoora is a settlement in South Australia. At the 2006 census, Manoora had a population of 277.-References:...
in 1870.
Railway workshops were immediately set up in Riverton. This swelled the population and sharply increased trade generally in the town. However, the workshops closed in 1878.
Clare, South Australia
The town of Clare is located in South Australia in the Mid North region, 136 km north of Adelaide. It gives its name to the Clare Valley wine and tourist region.-History:One of the first settlers in the area was John Horrocks, in 1839...
was opened and later extended to Spalding
Spalding, South Australia
Spalding is a town located north of the Clare Valley in South Australia, Australia at . At the 2006 census, Spalding had a population of 212.It is mainly a farming community and also is home to a slate quarry....
. This branch made it necessary for more railway employees to live at Riverton. In 1965, there were 25 railway employees and their families living in Riverton.
Riverton station was the scene of an attempted mass shooting in 1921. A passenger who was travelling on the Broken Hill Express from Adelaide fired a number of shots into the dining room and Percy Brookfield
Percival Brookfield
Percival Stanley Brookfield was an Australian politician and militant trade unionist. He was variously known as Percival Jack Brookfield or Jack Brookfield, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1917 until his violent death in 1921...
, a Member of Parliament for Broken Hill, was shot and killed when he tried to disarm the gunman.
The station buildings were astonishingly massive — the finest outside Adelaide. The Refreshment Rooms were open for all passenger trains. At one time, passenger trains passing through Riverton had connections at Terowie
Terowie, South Australia
Terowie is a small town in the mid-north of South Australia located north of Adelaide. It is located in the Regional Council of Goyder. Terowie retains a number of authentic and well preserved 1880s buildings, and has been declared a "historic town". It also remains a town of interest to those...
to Broken Hill
Broken Hill, New South Wales
-Geology:Broken Hill's massive orebody, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The orebody is shaped like a boomerang plunging into the earth at its ends and outcropping in the centre. The protruding tip of the...
, Alice Springs
Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Alice Springs is the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Popularly known as "the Alice" or simply "Alice", Alice Springs is situated in the geographic centre of Australia near the southern border of the Northern Territory...
and Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. The Refreshment Rooms served a 3-course Dinner to East-West passengers and Breakfast to Broken Hill passengers. Additionally, refreshments were served to passengers on all other trains.
It now houses delightful tea-rooms, a gallery and bed and breakfast accommodation. You can also sleep in the tastefully converted old railway carriages.
The railways played a major part in the development of Riverton, both as a transport provider and as an employer.
Governance
Riverton is in the District Council of Clare and Gilbert ValleysDistrict Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys
The District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys is a local government administrative body located in the wine growing central south region of South Australia...
local government area, the state electoral district of Frome
Electoral district of Frome
Frome is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after Edward Charles Frome, the third surveyor-general of South Australia. The electorate is based around the industrial city of Port Pirie and the agriculture areas of Clare and Gilbert...
and the federal
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
Division of Wakefield
Division of Wakefield
The Division of Wakefield is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of South Australia. It is located north of Adelaide, incorporating the outer northern suburbs of Salisbury and Elizabeth, and extending north as far as Clare. It covers the east coast of the Gulf St Vincent north of...
.
Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
politician Trish Worth
Trish Worth
Patricia Mary "Trish" Worth , Australian politician, was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1993 to October 2004, representing the Division of Adelaide, South Australia...
was born in Riverton.