Gawler River is a locality and former small town on the north bank of the Gawler River, west of the town of Gawler in South Australia. The Dawkins family (of whom M. B. Dawkins MLC was a member) established extensive farms in the early 19th century. The Dawkins’ Newbold Stud is credited with being first to develop the Poll Dorset breed of sheep, which is one of Australia’s most important sheep meat breeds.