Are you looking for somewhere different to have your next holiday? Perhaps you’re looking for a tree change and a quieter more relaxed lifestyle. Then we might have the place for you! You should definitely consider checking out Loxton.
Loxton is a Riverland town located along the Murray River in South Australia. According to the 2016 census, the population of Loxton is about 4,500 thousand.
Loxton is one of the major towns of the Riverland region which includes Renmark, Berri, Barmera, and Waikerie.
Brief history of Loxton
The township of Loxton was declared in 1907 (named after William Loxton), there were people settled in the area well before that. There is a really good book called Community of strength : Loxton & its people by Rob Linn which I highly recommend. This was one of a few books that came out for the Loxton Centenary in 2007. Another being a pictorial history and one about the street names of Loxton. They are a really good resource if you want to learn more.
Sport in Loxton
Loxton has a strong sporting culture. Like your average Riverland town, the major sports are Australian rules football and netball in winter and cricket in summer. The town also has clubs for swimming, softball, basketball to name just a few. There is also a strong community that play lawn bowls.
Uniquely, Loxton has two football /Netball clubs. The Loxton Tigers and the Loxton North Panthers. It goes without saying, there is great rivalry between these clubs and watching a game is always very entertaining.
Loxton recently had an upgrade to their main sporting area with the Loxton Precinct, opened in 2020. Visiting clubs and groups which use the facility are very impressed with the amenities including when Port Adelaide Magpies and West Adelaide Bloods clashed at the Loxton Oval in May 2022 for the Russell Ebert‘s tribute game.
The business district
Loxton has a strong Chamber of Commerce with a thriving main street and industrial area. The Loxton community has a variety of locally owned small businesses offering a range of services including fast food, fashion, beauty and care, tradies and much more…
Visiting Loxton
If you’re looking to visit the Loxton area there are plenty of accommodation options including but no doubt not limited to the Loxton hotel, The Courthouse Apartments, the Harvest Trail Lodge (backpackers), The big four caravan park and various bed and breakfasts.
Things to do in Loxton
When you visit Loxton you will soon realise the town is clean, tidy and well-maintained. There are also a number of fun things you can do.
Pioneer Playground
If you have young children or maybe even just young at heart looks and has a premier playground called the pioneer playground which was built about eight years ago now. I know our kids love it. It’s a great place to go the kids run a mark and they are there a great barbecue facilities there.
BBQ facilities down by the river
Well I’m on the topic of barbecues if you head down to the river front and provided it’s not in floodlight right now at the time of the writing of this article. There are some great barbecue facilities there which are free to use I know that we have quite often headed down there on a weekly basis to have barbecues with friends.
There is the historical village.
The Historical village will take you back in time (worlds first time machine?). It has a lot of old buildings and machinery that showcase how life used to be many years ago. It is maintained by a small number of dedicated volunteers who love what they do and as they preserve the history of Loxton.
Nature walks and trails
There are nature walks and walking trails that you can take. also more recently that installed some of those outdoor exercise equipment which is a really good addition and again I know that as a local resident are use them on a regular basis.
Annual Events
Depending on what time of the year you attend there are different events that take place in the township including the Loxton Lights Festival, Loxton Mardi Gras, The Loxton Gift, the Loxton Pedal Prix, to name just a few.
The schools of Loxton
Loxton is blessed with wonderful schools. It has a premier high school in Loxton high school which has a good reputation and strong sporting culture. There are also a number of primary schools, including the Loxton Primary School, Saint Albert‘s Catholic School, Loxton Lutheran School, and Loxton North primary School. In other words, you’re pretty spoilt for choice.
Churches of Loxton
Loxton has a good representation of Church denominations. Including Church of Christ, Anglican, Lutheran, Uniting, and independent along with representation from other faiths.
Looking for a place to visit or move to?
So, if you’re looking for a getaway, Loxton is definitely a place to visit. If you are you looking for a tree change because you are sick of the city life and busyness then definitely put Loxton on your list of options. It’s a great place to live, raise kids. There are wonderful schools, work opportunities and great sporting facilities.
Final thoughts
So have you visited Loxton before? If so, what did you think of the town? Is there anything that you’d like to add? I’d love to hear what your thoughts are in the comments below.
