Balaklava, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Balaklava South Australia
Shops in the main street of Balaklava
Balaklava Location in South Australia
Postcode(s)	5461
Elevation	68 m (223 ft)(railway station)
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
• Summer (DST)	ACST (UTC+10:30)
Location	92 km (57 mi) north of Adelaide 35 km (22 mi) west of Auburn
LGA(s)	Wakefield Regional Council
Region	Mid North
State electorate(s)	Frome
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Localities around Balaklava: Whitwarta Watchman Halbury Whitwarta Saints Kallora Balaklava Halbury Owen Kallora Erith Dalkey Hoskin Corner Owen
Footnotes	Adjoining localities

Balaklava is a town in South Australia. It is about 92 kilometres (57 miles) north of Adelaide. The town is in the Mid North region. It sits on the south bank of the Wakefield River. Balaklava is also about 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of Port Wakefield.

History of Balaklava

Early Days and First Settlers

For a very long time, the land around Balaklava was home to the Kaurna and Peramangk Aboriginal peoples. The first Europeans to explore this area were John Hill and Thomas Burr. They visited on April 29, 1840. They found Diamond Lake and camped near Owen.

The first European settlers were James and Mary Dunn. In 1850, they opened a hotel. This hotel helped people who were moving copper ore. The ore was carried by bullock teams on the Gulf Road. It went from the Burra mine to Port Wakefield. From there, it was sent away by ship.

How Balaklava Got Its Name

The copper ore traffic stopped in 1857. A new railway line made it easier to move ore. After that, wool and grain became the main goods moved to Port Wakefield.

The town of Balaklava was planned by Charles Fisher in 1869. He named it after the Hundred of Balaklava. This name came from the famous Battle of Balaklava. Fisher built large stores for grain. He wanted to encourage farmers to live near the town. The first hotel in the new town was the Balaklava Hotel. It is now called the Royal.

The Railway's Role

Balaklava was first connected by a narrow-gauge railway. This was a horse-drawn tramway that went inland to Hoyleton. The South Australian Railways later took over this line. They changed it to use steam trains and made it longer.

A railway line from Hamley Bridge to Balaklava opened in 1878. This connected Balaklava to Adelaide. The railway was very important for the town's growth. The line to Port Wakefield was later closed. The last time freight was carried on the line was in 2004.

Famous People from Balaklava

Steele Hall was born in Balaklava. He was the premier (leader) of South Australia from 1968 to 1970. He also went to Balaklava High School.

Geography of Balaklava

Balaklava is surrounded by several other towns. These include:

• Auburn
• Blyth
• Clare
• Halbury
• Mallala
• Owen
• Port Wakefield
• Snowtown
• Hamley Bridge

Local Government

Balaklava is an important centre for local government. It is where the main office for the Wakefield Regional Council is located. This council helps manage the local area.

For state government, Balaklava is part of the Frome area. For federal government, it is in the Grey area. These are the areas that choose people to represent them in parliament.

Education in Balaklava

Balaklava has several places for learning:

• Balaklava Community Children's Centre (for younger children)
• Balaklava Primary School
• Balaklava High School
• Balaklava Horizon Christian School

Local Media

The local newspaper for Balaklava is the Plains Producer. It has been printed in the region since 1903. Over the years, its name changed a few times:

• It was first called Central Advocate.
• In 1909, it became Wooroora Producer.
• In 1940, it was renamed The Producer.
• After a break during World War II, it started again in 1946.
• In 1983, it finally became the Plains Producer.

Another newspaper, Two Wells and Districts Echo, is also printed in Balaklava.

Arts and Sports in Balaklava

Horse Racing and Agricultural Show

The Balaklava Racing Club started in 1903. It has the longest straight section of track in South Australia. They hold 13 horse races each year. The biggest event is the Balaklava Cup. This horse racing carnival happens on the first Wednesday of September every year.

Balaklava Racecourse Heritage Grandstand Today

Jacks Humor at the Balaklava Races. This picture shows a story about racing legend Jack McGowan at the Balaklava Races in 1952.

Balaklava also has an agricultural show every September. This big event shows off the region's achievements. You can see things like farming, horse riding, baking, and art. Local schools also show their work. There are many fun activities for families to enjoy.

Performing and Visual Arts

Balaklava is known for its support of music, drama, and school arts. The Balaklava Eisteddfod Society holds a music and speech/drama competition every year. This event has been running since 1997.

The Balaklava Community Arts group started in 1982. They support both visual arts (like painting) and performing arts (like theatre). The Balaklava Courthouse Gallery is part of this group. It holds popular art exhibitions and competitions. The Community Arts group helps local artists and brings entertainment to the town.

Sports Facilities

Balaklava has many sports facilities and clubs. They have regular competitions for different sports:

• Basketball and tennis are played in summer.
• Football and netball are played in winter.
• Squash courts are open all year.

The main sports area has the football oval, basketball courts, netball courts, and tennis courts all in one place. Balaklava also has its own swimming pool. It is open from November to April each year.

The Balaklava Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course. It is 5987 metres (about 3.7 miles) long. The course is watered all year. The Balaklava Gliding Club is located near Whitwarta. This is about 10 kilometres (6 miles) north-west of the town. They usually fly gliders every weekend.

Images for kids

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  Shops in the main square

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  Town hall and institute

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  Uniting church

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  Post office