"Charles Napier Sturt (28 April 1795 – 16 June 1869) was a British explorer of Australia, and part of the European exploration of Australia. He led several expeditions into the interior of the continent, starting from both Sydney and later from Adelaide. His expeditions traced several of the westward-flowing rivers, establishing that they all merged into the Murray River. He was searching to determine if there was an "inland sea"."
[ex- Monuments Australia:
Charles Sturt
On a square/rectangular pedestal of pink rose coloured marble is a Doric-style column. It is surrounded by brick paving, and overlooks a pontoon of the Murray River, and is next to the Berri Visitors Information Centre. On the western side of the base is a bronze plaque with the following inscription:
Captain CHARLES STURT
Passed this spot
January 1830
Erected 1930
"In 1828 he discovered the Darling River and in January 1830 the Murray River, which he followed until he reached present day Goolwa. With the assistance of the local Aborigines, Sturt and his party were able to reach the Murray mouth in South Australia.
"He was unable to get his boat out into the sea and had to walk across the dunes to see the river flowing into the ocean. However Sturt had seen enough good land and it was his report of this journey that later influenced the decision in England to establish the Colony of South Australia.
"'An itinerary for the unveiling of memorials erected in connection with the Sturt centenary, arrangements in regard to which are being made under the auspices of the South Australian branch of the Royal Geographical Society has been fixed as follows: — Renmark, Wednesday afternoon, January 15: Berri, Thursday morning; Loxton, noon, Thursday; and Bannera, Thursday afternoon; Waikerie, Friday morning: and Morgan, Friday afternoon; Mannum, Saturday morning and Murray Bridge, Saturday afternoon; Hindmarsh Island, Sunday afternoon. At each centre a memorial cairn will be unveiled by the Chief Justice (Sir George Murray). The trip is to be made from Renmark to Morgan by motors, and from Morgan to Goolwa by steamer. Committees in New South Wales and Victoria are co-operating in the proceedings'.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), 17 October 1929."
[ex- Monuments Australia: Charles Sturt, Berri]
Visited: 1708, Thursday, 31 May, 2018