Booleroo Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Booleroo CentreSouth Australia |
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 Booleroo Centre
Location in South Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 5482 | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | District Council of Mount Remarkable | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Stuart | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
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Booleroo Centre is a friendly town located in the southern part of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. It's about 282 kilometers (175 miles) north of Adelaide, the state capital. This town is part of the Mount Remarkable District Council. In 2006, about 516 people lived here.
Contents
A Glimpse into Booleroo Centre's Past
How Booleroo Centre Got Its Name
The story of Booleroo Centre began in 1853. Two partners, William Spence Peter and George Elder, started a sheep station here. They called it the Booleroo run. The name "Booleroo" comes from a local Aboriginal word. Some people think it means "plenty," while others believe it means "soft mud."
In 1861, William Spence Peter sold the Booleroo run. He moved to New Zealand to raise sheep. The new owner was Philip Levi, who owned many other large sheep stations.
From Sheep Stations to Farms
In the 1870s, the government changed land rules. They wanted to divide large sheep stations into smaller farms. This way, more people could settle and grow crops. The Booleroo run was one of the areas chosen for these changes. Farmers who grew grains soon replaced the sheep herders.
The area was officially named the Hundred of Booleroo in 1875. Even though a town was planned in 1878, early settlers built their town in a different spot. Because this new town was right in the middle of the Hundred of Booleroo, it became known as Booleroo Centre.
A historic well called the Booleroo Whim is still standing on the Willowie-Booleroo Road. It is recognized as an important heritage site in South Australia.
Life in Booleroo Centre Today
Farming and Local Services
Today, the main industry in Booleroo Centre is growing grains. Raising wool and lambs is also very important. The town acts as a service hub for all the farms around it.
You can find many useful things in Booleroo Centre. There are different shops and churches, including Uniting, Catholic, and Lutheran churches. The town also has big storage places for grain and depots for farm fertilizers. The local pub, the Booleroo Centre Hotel, has been around since 1883.
Health and Education
Booleroo Centre has important regional services. The Booleroo Centre District Hospital provides health care for the town and a large area around it. This hospital serves about 3,000 people.
The Booleroo Centre District School teaches students from kindergarten all the way to Year 12. In 2007, about 225 students attended the school. Students come from Booleroo Centre and nearby towns like Wirrabara, Melrose, and Wilmington. Some local students also learn through Homeschooling.
The Booleroo Steam & Traction Museum
Booleroo Centre is home to the Booleroo Steam & Traction Preservation Society Museum. This society started from a yearly event in 1969. Now, it has one of Australia's biggest collections of old tractors and steam engines. They also have many other farm tools and steam equipment. All these items need over 2,900 square meters (3,470 square yards) of covered storage space! The yearly rally, where they show off these amazing machines, happens on the last Sunday in March at the town oval.
How People Traveled: The Railway Story
Booleroo Centre used to have a railway line from 1910 to 1969. Before the railway reached Booleroo Centre, people had to take coaches to the nearest train station. After many years of asking, the railway finally opened in 1910. This new narrow-gauge line connected Laura to Booleroo Centre, covering about 39 kilometers (24.25 miles). In 1915, the line was extended further to Wilmington.
The railway was a huge help for sending local wheat to export ports like Port Pirie. In 1910, there were 100,000 bags of wheat waiting at Booleroo to be shipped! The railway also carried passengers for many decades. However, as roads improved and more people used cars, the passenger service stopped in 1969. The entire railway line eventually closed in 1982.
Famous People from Booleroo Centre
- Bob Schulz (1923–2008), a well-known fashion designer.
- Vern Schuppan, a motor racing driver who won the famous Le Mans race in 1983.
