Alfred County is one of South Australia’s 49 cadastral counties, on the south bank of the River Murray. Governor James Fergusson proclaimed it in 1868, naming it after Prince Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who toured the colony in 1867.
Key Facts
| State | South Australia |
|---|---|
| Region | Riverland |
| Proclaimed | 1868 |
| Named after | Prince Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha |
| Area | 3,890 km² |
| Local government areas today | District Council of Loxton Waikerie |
Hundreds in Alfred County
The county has 8 hundreds, five along the Murray and three further south.
- Hundred of Allen
- Hundred of Bookpurnong
- Hundred of Gordon
- Hundred of Kekwick
- Hundred of McGorrery
- Hundred of Murtho
- Hundred of Paringa
- Hundred of Pyap
Towns and Localities Today
Loxton and Paringa sit within the county’s river hundreds, in Murtho and Paringa respectively, and remain its main service towns, supporting irrigated citrus and vine crops along the Murray. Bookpurnong and Pyap are smaller river localities further downstream. The southern hundreds of Allen, Kekwick, and McGorrery are dryland grain and sheep country away from the irrigation belt.
Geography
Alfred County covers 3,890 square kilometres on the Murray’s south bank. It borders Young and Hamley counties to the west, Albert County across the river to the east, and Buccleuch and Chandos counties to the south. Beyond the state border lie Tara County in New South Wales and the Millewa district of Victoria.
History
Local government in the area began as the District Council of Loxton in 1910 and went through several further subdivisions and amalgamations, including the District Council of Paringa and District Council of Brown’s Well, before consolidating into today’s District Council of Loxton Waikerie in 1997. Prince Alfred’s 1867 tour, which gave the county its name, was the first royal visit to the South Australian colony.
FAQ
What does Alfred County cover?
It covers the south bank of the River Murray around Loxton and Paringa, across 8 hundreds.
Is Alfred County still used?
Cadastral counties like Alfred remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.
What counties border Alfred County?
Young and Hamley to the west, Albert to the east across the Murray, and Buccleuch and Chandos to the south.