Swan Reach Hotel manager Craig Fromm said water was already filling the bowling club, along with the classic car museum at the bottom of the hill where car club members shifted out vehicles and as many fittings as possible.

Six houses at the bottom of the main street are now flooded, along with a craft shop and the majority of about 120 shacks at nearby Marks Landing.

But Fromm said among the anxiety and concerns there is a strong sense of resilience.

Some are already saying they will rebuild, others are joining forces to protect buildings – and hundreds of visitors arrive in town each day to support his hotel perched high over the river.

“The community spirit, that’s the thing, it pulls everybody through,” Fromm said, adding that day trippers are seeing the pub serve about 200 lunch meals each day since Christmas.

Water has now reached the second storey of some Marks Landing shacks, where owners had moved furniture up in hope of keeping it dry.

Latest State Emergency Service advice is that peak flows have now passed Morgan and will reach Blanchetown, Swan Reach, and Mannum over the next 48 hours.

Peak River Murray flows will hit Swan Reach in the next two days. Photo: Jacob Jennings Photography

“Communities should expect to see and prepare for new areas of flooding,” the latest statement said, adding that existing levees will struggle with further water and for river communities to be “vigilant and inspect their levees on a regular basis”.

It was only about 19 months ago that Fromm managed to secure a childhood dream growing up in Swan Reach, with he and partner Tammie Parker joining forces with John and Margaret George to take over the local pub.

Fromm had been away from his home town since turning 18 years of age, working at a country pub before driving trucks and then working for 10 years at the Hahndorf Old Mill Hotel.

This is not the year Fromm was expecting, watching the river rise to its highest levels since the mid 1970s.

Swan Reach Hotel overlooking the River Murray as peak flows begin to arrive. Photo: Jacob Jennings Photography

The water out the front, usually teeming with boats and jet skis, flows fast. Fromm encourages visitors to witness the event before levels fall, but says it will be tough on home owners and shack owners returning to clean up their “pride and joy”.

“There’s all the wildlife that goes through the houses, there will be mud, there will be carp, it will stink, it’s not going to be pleasant,” he says.

Some will stay, Fromm says. Others have said they will rebuild while some permanent residents have said “that’s it, we’re not going back”.

His hotel installed a $40,000 generator fearing water would shut down electricity as it approached power poles lower down the street, but it now looks like this will not happen.

Tammy Parker (left) and Craig Fromm at Swan Reach Hotel. Photo: supplied

The stream of visitors are helping keep the hotel busy, with extra staff now needed.

“Come and look at this river, you may not see this again and it’s a great experience for kids to see in their school holidays,” he says.