Fleurieu Peninsula Heritage
Rich in culture
Fleurieu Peninsula history goes back many, many thousands of years to the people of the Kaurna, Peramangk and Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal groups.
The story of hero Ngurunderi tells the tale of how the Murray River was formed. Ngurunderi chased a giant Murray Cod, named Ponde, from New South Wales. As Ponde tried to escape, he created the river we now know as the Murray River.
Cultural centres
The Ngarrindjeri maintain two Aboriginal cultural centres. Both are in the Coorong area, near Meningie. Camp Coorong is an interesting place to learn about the Ngarrindjeri culture through information sessions and displays. Coorong Wilderness Lodge has accommodation, café facilities and guided walks.
Warriparinga Cultural and Wetlands Centre is close by. ‘Warriparinga’ means a windy place by the river. It is an important and sacred place for the Kaurna people, who are the Aboriginal custodians of the Adelaide Plains.
An ancient track
It is the beginning of the Tjilbruke Dreaming Track, which follows the coastline to Cape Jervis. It is a peaceful reserve and wetland with an abundance of bird and wildlife. Along the pathways, the land tells a story about indigenous and non-indigenous people, the bush, animals, plant foods and the river.
Early settlers
In 1802, the English navigator, Matthew Flinders and French explorer, Nicholas Baudin mapped the southern coast of Australia. Matthew Flinders surveyed the area from the west, Nicholas Baudin from the east.
They met at a point just past the mouth of the Murray River. Nicholas Baudin named this region “Fleurieu Peninsula”, after the eminent French wanderer, Charles Pierre Claret, Comte de Fleurieu. Matthew Flinders named the bay where they met “Encounter Bay”.
A colony was born
In 1836, Colonel William Light made his first South Australian sighting of the Fleurieu Peninsula. He named his landing place Rapid Bay, in honour of his ship. The colony of South Australia was established soon after and today, a boulder at the southern end of Rapid Bay inscribed by Colonel Light commemorates the landing.
Learn more about this part of history at the Encounter Coast Discovery Centre and the Old Customs and Station Master’s House. See remnants from those early days and hear stories from early settlers and visitors.
Things to do
Here are some great ideas for you to try while you’re in the area.
What’s on
There are plenty of events on in the Fleurieu Peninsula. Here are some ideas you might like.
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