Auburn, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Auburn South Australia
Auburn Post Office
Auburn Location in South Australia
Established	1849
Postcode(s)	5451
Location	111 km (69 mi) north of Adelaide 25 km (16 mi) south of Clare
LGA(s)	District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys
Region	Mid North
State electorate(s)	Frome
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Localities around Auburn: Watervale Leasingham Mintaro Hoyleton Auburn Manoora Halbury Undalya Saddleworth

Auburn is a charming small town. It is located in the southern part of the Clare Valley in South Australia. The town sits in the northern Mount Lofty Ranges. It is also found just east of the Skilly Hills. The Wakefield River flows right through Auburn. This river then continues its journey to the sea at Port Wakefield. Auburn has a special connection to poetry. It was named after a famous poem and is the birthplace of a well-known poet.

History of Auburn

The first European to explore the Auburn area was John Hill in April 1839. Just one month later, Edward John Eyre also visited. In March 1840, John Morphett chose a large piece of land. This land was 4,000 acres along the Wakefield River. He was acting for three English investors.

Soon after, a man named William Tateham settled near the river. He lived in a dugout home by the riverbank. He offered a place to stay for travellers. This spot later became Auburn. For a while, it was called Tateham's Waterhole or Billy Tatum's.

In October 1849, Thomas Henry Williams received a land grant for the Auburn area. He was a superintendent at the Burra copper mines. Over the next few years, Williams sold small pieces of land. These were bought by bullock teamsters and others.

The very first building in Auburn was a hotel. It was called the Rising Sun Inn and was built in 1850. This hotel still stands today! Joseph Edwin Bleechmore, the hotel owner, also started the town's school. The school opened in May 1855.

A railway line from Riverton opened in 1918. This railway was later closed in the 1980s. Today, it is a popular walking and cycling path called the Rattler Trail.

The name Auburn was likely chosen by Thomas Henry Williams. It comes from a line in a poem by Oliver Goldsmith. The line says, Sweet Auburn, loveliest village on the plain.

How Auburn is Governed

Auburn is part of the District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys. This is like the local government for the area. For state government, Auburn is in the Frome area. This means people in Auburn vote for a representative in the state parliament. For the national government, Auburn is in the Grey area. This is where people vote for a representative in the Australian Parliament.

Famous People from Auburn

Auburn is the birthplace of some notable Australians. One famous person is the Australian poet, C. J. Dennis. He was born in 1876. He even lived for a time in the old Auburn Hotel. A small stream in town, Dennis Creek, is named after his father. His father was a local pub owner for many years.

Another famous person born in Auburn is Ernie Jones. He was born in 1869. Ernie was a talented sportsman. He played both Australian cricket and Australian Rules football.

Auburn Today

Auburn is often called the "Gateway to the Clare Valley." It is located on the Horrocks Highway. This highway connects Auburn to Adelaide, which is about 111 kilometres north. It is also 25 kilometres south of the town of Clare.

Auburn has always been an important transport hub. In the 1850s, it was on the "Gulf Road." This road was used by bullock teams. They carried copper ore from Burra to Port Wakefield. Today, the Horrocks Highway connects Adelaide to the north. It also links the Riverland area with Yorke Peninsula. The southern end of the Riesling Trail starts here too. It begins next to the old railway station, which is now a winery.

Auburn has many beautiful old buildings. Because of this, it has become a popular place for tourists since the 1970s. You can find several local wineries here. There are also many B&Bs for visitors.

The town offers many services. These include a pub and several cafes. There is also an art gallery and a roadhouse. You can find bike hire and an internet cafe. Auburn has a post office and a hairdresser. There is a Primary School and a CFS station. The Auburn oval has sports facilities. You can play cricket, bowls, and netball there. The oval also has a small caravan park.

Gallery

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  Ford and footbridge, King Street

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  Institute building

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  C. J. Dennis memorial

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  CWA Clubrooms, Main North Road

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  Former railway station, now a cellar door

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  Rising Sun Hotel

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  Public library (former Council Chambers)

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  Footbridge over Wakefield River (part of the Riesling Trail)

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  Former Mechanics Institute building, now an antique store