Australia Plains, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Australia PlainsSouth Australia |
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Former Church (left) and school
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 Australia Plains
Location in South Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 5374 | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Regional Council of Goyder | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Stuart | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
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Australia Plains is a small country area in the Mid North region of South Australia. It is located about 127 kilometers northeast of Adelaide. This area is part of the Regional Council of Goyder. In 2021, only 41 people lived in Australia Plains.
Contents
What's in a Name?
This place got its name from "Australia Huts." These were simple huts made from pine wood and mud. Drovers and shepherds used these huts a long time ago. You could see them on old maps of the area.
A Look Back in Time
Australia Plains is on the traditional lands of the Ngadjuri people. They are the original owners and caretakers of this land. Sadly, their history and connection to the land were often overlooked.
Early Settlers
In the 1850s, people who raised sheep and cattle, called pastoralists, started using the land here. This included the Dutton family from nearby Anlaby. Farmers were a bit slow to settle in Australia Plains. This was because the land was considered less fertile. It was located beyond Goyder's Line, an imaginary line showing where farming might be difficult. However, by the early 1880s, more people started to settle down.
Growing the Community
A general store and a saddlery opened in 1876. The Australia Plains Post Office served the community for many years. It was open from April 1, 1882, until May 31, 1971.
In 1883, a German Lutheran church and school were built. The church was later replaced by St Johannis Lutheran Church in 1894.
School Days
During World War I, the school had to close. This was because of strong feelings against anything German at the time. A new public school opened in 1917. It stayed open until 1956. St Johannis Lutheran Church closed in the 1970s. Today, the old church building is a private home.
Who Lives Here?
In the 2021 Census, 41 people lived in Australia Plains. About 60.5% were male and 39.5% were female. The average age of people living here was 40 years old. There were 13 families and 16 homes in the area. On average, about 2.7 people lived in each home.
Australia Plains Today
As of 2023, Australia Plains no longer has any shops or services.
Solar Power Project
A big project is happening in Australia Plains. It's called the Australia Plains Solar Project. This project is putting in many solar panels across a large area. The goal is to use the sun's energy to make electricity. This project covers about 340 hectares (which is like 840 football fields!). It started recently and was planned to be finished in 2023.
Images for kids
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“Adelaide Plains from Road to Government Farm” by Samuel Thomas Gill, 1842
See Also
- Regional Council of Goyder
