Black Rock, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Black Rock South Australia
Black Rock Station Sign
Black Rock Location in South Australia
Elevation	435 m (1,427 ft)(railway station)
Location	256 km (159 mi) N of Adelaide 108 km (67 mi) NE of Port Pirie 107 km (66 mi) SW of Port Augusta
LGA(s)	District Council of Orroroo Carrieton
State electorate(s)	Stuart
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Localities around Black Rock: Orroroo Orroroo Minvalara Pekina Black Rock Minvalara Tarcowie Yatina Minvalara
Footnotes	Adjoining localities

Black Rock is a small place in South Australia. It used to be called Dalton. You can find it on the Black Rock Plains. It's where two main roads meet: the RM Williams Way (B80) and the Wilmington–Ucolta Road (B56). This area is in the Mid North part of the state. Black Rock was also once a stop for trains on a railway line that isn't there anymore.

A Look Back: Black Rock's History

Black Rock is about 19 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Orroroo. The town was first officially started on December 15, 1881. Back then, it was known as "Dalton". Its name comes from a nearby hill. This hill was first noted by Captain E.C. Frome in 1842. The town's name was changed to "Black Rock" in 1940.

Trains and Tracks: Black Rock's Railway Story

A railway line was built through Dalton in 1881. This line was part of the Great Northern Railway. In the past, Dalton had a group of railway workers. It also had its own station master. The last trains that carried goods through Black Rock were grain trains. They ran between Peterborough and Orroroo in 1988.

The railway tracks connecting Black Rock to Orroroo and Peterborough were taken away in late 2008. However, some tracks were left in the train yard. They were also left on the Black Rock Bridge. This bridge is about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) south of the town.

The Long Bridge

The Black Rock Bridge is very long. It measures 241 meters (792 feet). This makes it the longest bridge on what was once called the Peterborough Division railway line.

Fun on the Tracks: The Kalamazoo Race

Even after the tracks were removed, the Black Rock Yard was used for fun events. On March 27, 2010, it hosted the first-ever Kalamazoo race. This event was reported to be very successful. A Kalamazoo is a small, hand-powered rail vehicle.

Life in Black Rock Today

People still live in Black Rock. However, the town is now almost empty. Many buildings are still standing. One of these is the Black Rock Hotel. This hotel last operated as a business in the mid-1980s.

How Did Black Rock Get Its Name?

Governor Jervois was the person who named the town. He might have named it after Charles James Dalton. Charles Dalton was an officer in the Royal Artillery. He lived at the same time as Governor Jervois. They both served in the Royal Engineers.

Another idea is that it was named after the English town of Dalton. That town's name means 'village in the valley'. Or, it could come from Gaelic words, dall-dun, which mean 'dark hill'.