Beachport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BeachportSouth Australia |
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Main street of Beachport
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 Beachport
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 23 May 1878 (town) 18 December 1997 (locality) |
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| Postcode(s) | 5280 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACST (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Wattle Range Council | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Limestone Coast | ||||||||||||||
| County | Grey | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | MacKillop | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Barker | ||||||||||||||
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| Footnotes | Locations Adjoining localities |
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Beachport is a small town on the coast of South Australia. It is about 311 kilometers (193 miles) south-east of Adelaide. You can find it at the northern end of Rivoli Bay.
Beachport is famous for its large fleet of boats that catch crayfish. It also has a very long jetty, which is like a pier. This jetty is 772 meters (2,533 feet) long. It is the second longest jetty in South Australia. Visitors love the town's tall Norfolk pine trees, white sandy beach, and clear ocean waters.
Before Europeans arrived in the 1820s, the Bungandidj people lived here. They were the first people to settle in this area. Evidence shows they have lived here for over 30,000 years. In their language, they called this place Wirmalngrang.
Contents
Discovering Beachport's Past
Early Beginnings and Naming
In 1802, a French explorer named Nicolas Baudin found and named Rivoli Bay. Later, in the 1830s, a whaling station was set up there. Whaling means hunting whales for their oil and other products.
After a while, whaling became less popular. Then, European farmers started settling in the land behind the coast. They raised sheep for wool. This wool industry grew very big. Because of this, a port was needed to ship the wool. The town was officially named Beachport on May 23, 1878. It was named after Michael Hicks Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn, who was an important British official at the time.
Beachport During World War II
Beachport is known for a sad event during World War II. On July 12, 1941, a local fisherman found a German sea mine. A sea mine is an explosive device placed in the water. He towed it to Beachport.
The next day, two brave sailors, Thomas Todd and William Danswan, were trying to make the mine safe. Sadly, a wave lifted the mine, and it exploded on the beach. They were killed in this accident. They are believed to be the first people to die on Australian soil during World War II. Today, a special monument stands in Beachport to remember them.
How Transport Shaped Beachport
Beachport officially became a port on November 21, 1878. In the same year, a lighthouse was built nearby on Penguin Island. A railway line from Mount Gambier was also finished.
In 1879, a large building was built to store wool and grain. The railway connected to this store. This made it easy to move goods by train to the port and then by sea. The railway stopped running in 1957. The old wool and grain store has been saved. Today, it is a National Trust museum. You can visit it to learn about the town's history.
Important Historic Places
Beachport has several places that are protected because of their history. These are listed on the South Australian Heritage Register:
- Railway Terrace: The Beachport Customs House
- 5 Railway Terrace: The Wool and Grain Store
- Rivoli Bay: The Beachport Jetty
Exploring Beachport's Natural Wonders
Beachport is a great place for outdoor activities.
- Popular spots for fishing include the Salmon Hole, the jetty, and 10 Mile Beach.
- Other interesting places to visit are the Salt Lake and Lake George.
- You can also enjoy amazing coastal views along the Scenic Drive.
The nearby Beachport Conservation Park is a special area. It has 710 hectares (1,754 acres) of beaches, rocky cliffs, and native plants. This park is also part of a much larger area called the Lake Hawdon System Important Bird Area. This means it's a very important place for many different kinds of birds.
In the sandhills near Beachport, you'll find the Pool of Siloam. It's named after a famous pool in the Bible. Local people believe this pool has healing powers. It is said to be seven times saltier than the ocean. Many people enjoy swimming there, and there are facilities for visitors.
