TAILEM BEND Tailem Bend is the first town that is actually located on the Murray River as the traveler heads north to Adelaide. Tailem Bend is also another of those town that is a just a little too small for the full provision of services. Tailem Bend though presents a face of neglect and vandalism. Tailem Bend is a rough place. From a heritage perspective the town has its intentions on display. The town was proclaimed in 1887, the year after the main railway came through. The name is a corruption of the aboriginal name tailem which was used for the area. The word means bend and is associated with the sharp bend that the Murray River makes in this location.  It is located on the cliffs above the east (left) bank of the Murray River close to where the river empties into Lake Alexandrina. The Tailem Bend Ferry, a cable ferry, operates across the river to Jervois. Major industries in the area include pig farming, dairying, and grain growing. Tailem Bend is a common stopping point for truck drivers into and out of Adelaide. The Steam Train is an intended high profile draw card for Tailem Bend. The church buildings in Tailem Bend are mostly century plus offerings. Some very nice. The Tailem Bend Museum is the ‘on display railway station’. Tailem Bend has two hotels. One very old and the other modern. The Tailem Bend War Memorial is an appropriate acknowledgement. If the timing is right pullover and check the river height and that steam train.