A birthday party to honour the 50th anniversary of the iconic Murray Bridge Bunyip / Mulyawonk will be celebrated at Sturt Reserve in January – and everyone’s invited.

Visitors can find the Bunyip / Mulyawonk in a water cave by the river, and press a button to hear it roar as it rises from the murky depths. Celebrations for the well known tourist attraction will include music, food, kids activities, speeches and storytelling from 5pm on Saturday 29 January.

Rural City of Murray Bridge Mayor Brenton Lewis said the event would bring the whole community together, to learn about local history and celebrate the unique stories that shape the town’s identity. “The Murray Bridge Bunyip, or Mulyawonk as it’s known by local indigenous people, is a well-known feature of the riverfront that people come from far and wide to see,” he said. “It’s a bit of novelty and lot of fun for kids, scaring each other as they watch the bunyip rise from the watery depths and roar, but there is also an important story behind it that honours Ngarrindjeri culture and remains relevant today.

“The 50th Anniversary celebrations are an opportunity for us all to connect, share our stories, honour the past and celebrate the bright future we are building together.” Ngarrindjeri Mulyawonk Dreaming tells a story that teaches children water safety and respect for the fish of the river and lakes. The Bunyip’s 50th birthday event is being organised in liaison with the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority to ensure local culture is honoured and respected.

The Murray Bridge Bunyip at Sturt Reserve was built by Dennis Newell, and commissioned by South Australian Premier of the day, Hon Don Dunstan, on 29 January 1972. Since that time the local attraction has undergone several renovations and improvements starting out as ‘Bert’ originally, before enjoying a brief time as ‘Bertha’ with a baby bunyip, and today as ‘Bertha’ alone.

For more information about 50th Anniversary celebrations keep an eye on the Rural City of Murray Bridge Facebook page.  In accordance with current emergency directions all activities will have a COVIDSafe plan – including COVID Marshals, cleaning, food safety handling, monitoring of attendance and appropriate signage.