14/02/2024
LOCAL GOVERNMENT THE CORPORATION OF MURRAY BRIDGE CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
1924 - 2024
100 years ago, on the 6th of February 1924 the Murray Bridge Municipal Council was incorporated.
What occurred during this period and the previous years leading up to such an historical date?
1904 the area operated under a council comprising of Murray Bridge Ward, Swanport Ward, River Ward, Salt Creek Ward, and Burdett Ward.
In 1919 moves were made to incorporate the Town Ward, the other Wards would operate under the District Council Act. Mr M.W. Parish, Chairman of the District Council told ratepayers a resolution had been carried to take steps to have the Town of Murray Bridge Incorporated. It took 5 years for this to happen. The first Mayor of the Corporation of Murray Bridge was the previous chairman of the District Council of Mobilong. Following the division of the community into Municipal and District Councils, things needed to be sorted, possessions needed to be divided. Eventually lands and property were divided up to everyone’s satisfaction. The then present Council office in the Institute, became the property of the Corporation, and they would erect a two roomed structure on the reserve near the Police Station, as a meeting place for the District Council of Mobilong.
Known as the “Capitol of the Murray,” it became a famous town named after the old road and rail bridge. By October 1924 there was 1,000 houses, 5,000 people, 900 were children. Recorded ratepayers totalled 1,500.
The Corporation owned its own bitumen spraying plant, two motor trucks, and a quarry to help with the road works.
You could purchase a four-bedroom house for ÂŁ885 with ÂŁ400 remain on mortgage. Businesses became multipurpose, Land Agents were also tax agents, Insurance Agents were Blacksmiths and Undertakers. A Motor Passenger Service provided return trips to Adelaide 3 days a week and we had a passenger train. New Real Estate was available at the Murray Bridge Estate near Soldiers Memorial Hospital, ÂŁ5 deposit, balance ÂŁ1 per month plus 6% interest.
Businesses were extending their premises or rebuilding. There were a choice of good butchers, builders, bakers, shoemakers, motor and general engineers, plumbers and ironworkers, painters, grain merchants, clothing stores you could even choose where to hire a car. The larger stores Eudunda Farmers, Bells, Beckwith’s a Furniture warehouse, and large factories milk, butter, cheese, a four-story flour mill and a large timber yard were in the town. Everything was catered for, there was a choice of Churches, Church of England, Holy Cross Lutheran, Christ Church Lutheran, Methodist and Salvation Army. An Infant, Primary and a High School in the one area. Picture Theatre’s and skating rinks. Hotels and accommodation, board and lodgings advertising modern conveniences hot, cold and shower baths. All sports were catered for. The town was flourishing.
Cole Bros Ltd had monthly markets every second Tuesday of each month included land and property sales.
In December Dr H F Wickens moved to his home on the corner of Swanport Road and Riverview Road (one of the houses demolished for a supermarket car park.)
While business was carrying on first Council of the Corporation of Murray Bridge was working behind the scenes. December 15 was the first meeting and items such as the Watts Bros new Butcher shop will need a 20 hp motor to run its refrigerator and as Corporation oversees supplying electricity to the town we will need to go into the matters of cost of service and design of main.
Progress was difficult in the early years for the new Corporation, the country was soon in the grip of the Great Depression, but cordial relations were retained with the District Council of Mobilong. Both local Councils combined in 1934 to celebrate 50 years of local government with a Jubilee Carnival on the King’s birthday weekend. They have retained local Government. The Corporation became the Rural City of Murray Bridge.
