Lock 1 Blanchetown
The first weir and lock built on the River Murray, a working piece of river engineering you can watch in action.
Completed in 1922, Lock 1 was the first of the Murray's 13 locks and weirs, built to make the river navigable for the paddle steamers that once carried wool and wheat downstream. Today it still lifts houseboats and cruisers between the upper and lower pools, and watching a vessel work through the chamber is a quietly mesmerising thing.
The surrounding reserve is an easy place to stretch your legs, with picnic lawns, shady red gums and a boat ramp. Pelicans loaf on the weir wall and the cliffs on the far bank glow apricot in the late afternoon. Blanchetown marks the official western edge of the Riverland, so for many travellers Lock 1 is the first taste of river country.
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Lock 1 Blanchetown — frequently asked questions
When was Lock 1 at Blanchetown built?
Lock 1 at Blanchetown was completed in 1922 and was the first of the locks and weirs built on the River Murray. It was constructed to help make the river reliably navigable for the paddle steamers of the era.
How many locks are on the River Murray?
There are 13 navigation locks and weirs on the River Murray, numbered from Lock 1 at Blanchetown upstream. They regulate water levels and allow vessels to pass between river pools.
Can you watch boats go through Lock 1?
Yes. There are public viewing areas at Lock 1 where you can watch houseboats and cruisers lock through the chamber, and see the fishway built to let native fish pass the weir.
Image credits
- Blanchetown lock(GN14115).jpg by State Government Photographer , CC0 via Wikimedia Commons