Before white settlement, people of the Ngarrindjeri nation lived in this idyllic area. The wetland was turned into a dairy and sheep property from the mid-1800s until the early 1960's. In 1980 the area was converted back to a wetland with a lagoon. The willows out by the main channel are the remnants of the old dairy levy bank. Local residents take special care of the reserve especially during turtle egg laying season when they patrol the river bank daily in November, December and January to protect the newly laid eggs from predators.
The Riverglades Wetlands is encircled by a two kilometre walking trail built by the community as part of its management of the wetlands. The wetland is large and has plenty of open water for canoeing and paddling.