Sturt Reserve – History & Tourism Precinct & Recreation Precinct

RPS partnered with the Rural City of Murray Bridge to transform Sturt Reserve, a historic and much-loved community space on the banks of the Murray River. The $2.5 million upgrade delivered new recreational, cultural, and heritage amenities designed to strengthen Murray Bridge’s position as a regional tourism hub while preserving its historic character.

From 2020 to 2021, RPS led the project management and superintendency of works across multiple precincts, including the new Murray Bridge Regional Rowing Centre, a War Memorial, and the restoration of the Heritage Wharf. The project has created a vibrant destination for locals and visitors, blending recreation with cultural storytelling along the riverfront.

The challenge

Murray Bridge’s riverfront is a natural drawcard for both residents and tourists, but its existing facilities required redevelopment to meet modern expectations. The Rural City of Murray Bridge sought to create a more engaging, accessible, and culturally rich public space that would:

• Celebrate the city’s history and heritage.

• Provide high-quality recreation and event facilities.

• Strengthen the visitor economy by attracting regional, national, and international users.

The challenge lay in delivering these upgrades across multiple precincts while respecting the heritage of the site, meeting community expectations, and keeping the reserve accessible throughout works.

Our approach

RPS was engaged to provide end-to-end project and program management, ensuring the redevelopment was delivered on time, on budget, and in line with community and heritage requirements.

Our role included:

• Development of the User Requirements Brief to capture stakeholder and community needs.

• Heritage consultation to guide sensitive design and restoration outcomes.

• Procurement and management of the design team and construction contractors.

• Risk management to keep works on track.

• Superintendency and contract administration to safeguard delivery quality.

Works across the precincts included:

• Construction of the Murray Bridge Regional Rowing Centre, the new flagship sports facility on the Murray River.

• Installation of a new War Memorial, creating a focal point for community remembrance.

• Restoration and refurbishment of the Heritage Wharf and improved road and access links.

• Landscaping, furniture, signage, and kiosk upgrades.

• Creation of a three-metre-wide shared riverside path, connecting car parking, wharf access, and recreational facilities.

The result

The Sturt Reserve upgrade has revitalised a key public space, creating a welcoming and multifunctional precinct that balances recreation, heritage, and tourism. It now serves as both a community hub and a regional drawcard, enhancing Murray Bridge’s liveability and visitor economy.

This project demonstrates RPS’s ability to deliver complex, multi-stakeholder precinct redevelopments that integrate heritage, recreation, and tourism outcomes. By combining careful planning, heritage consultation, and disciplined project management, RPS helped the Rural City of Murray Bridge realise its vision of a vibrant riverfront precinct that will serve the community and visitors for decades to come.

Fast facts:

• Project value: $2.5 million

• Timeline: 2020–2021

• Precincts upgraded: Recreation Precinct (Stages 2 and 3) and History & Tourism Precinct

• Key outcomes: Regional Rowing Centre, War Memorial, Heritage Wharf restoration, new shared pathways, landscaping, and amenities.