-----------------------------CONTROLS---------------------------- PRESS THE RED BUTTON TO ACTIVADE THE ANIMATRONIC ---------------------------DESCRIPTION-------------------------- THE MURRAY BRIDGE BUNYIP, ALSO KNOWN AS BERTHA, IS AN ICONIC MECHANICAL MONSTER LOCATED ON THE BANKS OF THE MURRAY RIVER AT STURT RESERVE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. CREATED BY DENNIS NEWELL AND UNVEILED IN 1972, THIS CULT CLASSIC ATTRACTION FEATURES A LARGE, SCALY CREATURE THAT RISES FROM THE MURKY WATERS OF A CAGE. FOR DECADES, VISITORS HAVE DEPOSITED COINS TO TRIGGER THE MACHINE, CAUSING THE BUNYIP TO EMERGE WITH A LOUD ROAR, RED GLOWING EYES, AND WATER SPRAYING FROM ITS NOSTRILS. THE DESIGN IS INSPIRED BY ABORIGINAL FOLKLORE SURROUNDING THE BUNYIP—A MYTHICAL WATER BEAST SAID TO INHABIT SWAMPS AND BILLABONGS. ALTHOUGH ORIGINALLY QUITE FRIGHTENING TO CHILDREN, THE STRUCTURE HAS BECOME A BELOVED LANDMARK AND A NOSTALGIC SYMBOL OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOURISM. FOLLOWING VARIOUS RENOVATIONS, THE CURRENT VERSION OF BERTHA CONTINUES TO ENTERTAIN (AND STARTLE) FAMILIES TRAVELING THROUGH THE REGION. -------------------------------------------------------------------------
