Paringa, South Australia
Paringa is a small town in the Riverland of South Australia, from the border with Victoria. It is known for its vineyards and almond, citrus and stone fruit orchards. Its main feature is a six-span bridge that crosses the River Murray. One of the spans can be raised to allow houseboats and paddle-steamers to pass underneath.
Railway
Paringa was the terminus for 14 years of what eventually became the Barmera railway line – one of six lightly built lines that were built to encourage agricultural development in the Murraylands. Initially it extended from Tailem Bend to Meribah, in the Brown's Well district, in mid-1913 as planned. Soon afterwards the line was extended northwards to Paringa; the official opening took place on 3 October 1913. Fourteen years elapsed before the railway crossed the river to Renmark. By August 1928 the railway had been extended to Barmera: from Tailem Bend and from Adelaide railway station.The railway closed in 1990 but the bridge continues to carry the Sturt Highway as part of the main road link between Adelaide and Sydney.
The Paringa bridge was designed to carry a single railway line in the centre and a road lane on each side of it. It has a total of six spans, including one lift span to allow river traffic to pass underneath. It opened on 31 January 1927, enabling the railway to extend to Renmark. It is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.