In the late 1800's approximately 4,000 miles of the great Murray Darling river system was continuously navigable....at least for part of the year, depending on the flow of water down these systems.

The River Murray is Australia's major river and is still continuously navigable for approximately 1,200 miles or 1,986 kilometres, thanks to 11 locks and weirs and four barrages between the Murray mouth and Yarrawonga.

Old river men used hand drawn charts to guide them. Until 1975 there were no commercial river charts available for the River Murray.

Barry and Maureen Wright spent 14 months cruising from Murray Bridge to Yarrawonga in 1973 and 1974 and from this trip resulted a publication which was the first of its kind.

River Murray Charts is a book of 47 pages of navigation charts, designed very much as they were in the days of the Murray paddle steamers. The book was first sold in 1975 and since then River Murray Charts has become the bible of the river between Yarrawonga in Victoria and Renmark in South Australia.

It contains all you need to know for an extended river trip, or just for a good read.

The book has sold over 50,000 copies and won two judges commendations in the SA State tourism awards, in 1992 and 1993.

The new 7th edition, containing information updated in late 2001 and early 2002, was released in December 2002 and is now available from selected book shops and sports stores, or from the authors Maureen and Barry Wright in our secure online shop. See CHARTS and CD-ROM or contact us for more information:

Phone : Maureen 0417 085 086, Barry 0408 602 389
Fax: 08 8892 2948

What we do when not charting the Murray

The historic township of Burra is on the Adelaide to Broken Hill road and due west of Morgan.

Barry and I settled here in 1983 and currently run a row of heritage listed accommodation cottages called Tivers Row.

A thriving copper mining town in the 1850's, Burra is now a State Heritage Area with many interesting bluestone buildings dating from the last century.

Visitors can purchase a Burra Town Passport to access sites and museums on the Burra Heritage Trail. Burra is also on the Mawson and Heysen trails and close to the Clare Valley and its wineries.

For more information go to our site at www.burraheritagecottages.com.au

Click to see a Reference Key Plan to Charts
For information on river heights and weekly report on river flow click below: