Lake Bonney a few kilometres east of Kingston

Kingston-on-Murray (including Moorook)
Small township on the Murray River
Kingston-on-Murray is a small township (population around 300) located 214 km north-east of Adelaide on the mighty Murray River. It lies in the heart of a rich agricultural district and the area around the town is characterised by vineyards and orchards. The town is important as one of the major Murray River crossing points and it was common for cars and trucks to be waiting for the ferry on both sides of the river. This changed when a new bridge was constructed taking the Sturt Highway around the edge of the town.

The town was named after Charles Cameron Kingston who was Premier of South Australia from 1893-99. He was a hugely important figure in state and federal politics being involved in the drafting of the first Federal constitution and becoming a minister in one of the early federal governments.

The town was first surveyed in 1915 and was originally named Thurk which was the name of the property where the town now stands. There is also a Thurk island in the Murray River near Kingston.

Things to see:  

Kingston Estate Wines
Located on the Sturt Highway, Kingston Estate Wines are open by appointment only, tel: (08) 8583 0244.

Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre
Superb wine and wetlands experience on the banks of the Murray. Nothing we can say can quite match the excellent website created for the destination. Go to http://www.banrockstation.com.au and enjoy the great virtual tour.

Cave Cliff Historic Reserve
Located 7km north west of Kingston on Murray this reserve (ask around town for directions) is a mixture of cliffs, river flat and scrubland which is notable for a number of well preserved Aboriginal canoe trees, a midden and a limestone cave which was used by Aborigines for thousands of years.

Moorook
Part of the history of the riverlands is a sense of 'working together and sharing the riches'. The Hundred of Moorook was proclaimed in 1893 and Premier Kingston, trying to deal with high levels of unemployment and bank failures, encouraged people to move to Moorook where they could work together. The first group travelled up the Murray River in the Gem (it can be seen at Swan Hill) in 1894 and while the government had provided them with some supplies they were expected to kill kangaroos and ducks and catch fish in order to survive. They built a simple village where there was no money for currency and mutual help was mandatory. They planted vegetables and orchards to earn a living and to provide food. By the outbreak of World War I the desire for independence had seen Moorook collapse. People wanted to be rewarded for their own efforts. The area was occupied by soldier settlers after World War I.

Moorook Game Reserve
The Moorook Game Reserve is signposted beside the Kingston-Loxton road 4 km south of the Sturt Highway. It is a pleasant and peaceful game reserve with sedges and reeds growing along the edge of Wachtel's Lagoon.

	Cottages & Cabins
	Kingston-on-Murray Caravan Park River Tce Kingston-on-Murray SA 5331 Telephone: (08) 8583 0209 Facsimile: (08) 8583 0209 Rating: ***1/2
	Caravan Parks
	Kingston-on-Murray Caravan Park River Tce Kingston-on-Murray SA 5331 Telephone: (08) 8583 0209 Facsimile: (08) 8583 0209 Rating: ***1/2
	Backpackers
	Nomads on Murray Backpackers Hostel Sturt Hwy Kingston-on-Murray SA 5331 Telephone: (08) 8583 0211 Rating: **
	Houseboats
	Golden Leisure Houseboats Riverfront P.O. Box 28 Kingston-on-Murray SA 5331 Telephone: (08) 8588 1212