Bright, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bright South Australia
Bright Location in South Australia
Postcode(s)	5381
LGA(s)	Regional Council of Goyder
State electorate(s)	Stuart
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Localities around Bright: Worlds End Worlds End Bundey Hallelujah Hills Bright Bundey Robertstown Rocky Plain Geranium Plains
Footnotes	Coordinates

Bright is a small rural area located in the Mid North region of South Australia. It's part of the Regional Council of Goyder. This area became an official "locality" in August 2000. This means its boundaries were formally set, recognizing a name that had been used by local people for a long time.

Discovering Bright

Where is Bright Located?

Bright is found in the Mid North of South Australia. It's a rural area, meaning it's mostly countryside with farms and open spaces, rather than a big city.

Who Lived Here First?

Long before European settlers arrived, the land around Bright was the traditional home of the Ngadjuri people. They were the original custodians of this land.

How Did Bright Get Its Name?

The area gets its name from the "Hundred of Bright." A "hundred" is an old way of dividing land in Australia. This particular hundred was officially named on June 17, 1875. It was named after a politician called Henry Edward Bright.

Life in Early Bright

Settling the Land

People started settling in the Bright area well before the year 1900. Farming was a big part of life here. However, the land presented some challenges.

Farming Challenges and Solutions

Farmers had to work hard to prepare the land. They needed to clear "mallee" trees, which are a type of eucalyptus, to make space for crops. This work continued into the 1930s. Later, in the 1930s and 1940s, the area faced problems with soil erosion. This is when soil gets washed or blown away, making it harder to grow things.

Bringing Modern Services to Bright

Over time, modern services slowly reached Bright. In 1959, the eastern parts of the hundred received "reticulated water." This means water was supplied through pipes to homes and farms. Electricity arrived in 1963, bringing power to the area. Telephone service followed in 1964, connecting residents to the outside world.

Community Life and Services

The Bright Post Office

A post office opened in Bright on September 1, 1891. It was a place where people could send and receive mail. However, it was later downgraded to a "receiving office" in 1917, meaning it had fewer services. It then closed completely on October 31, 1917.

Schools in Bright

Bright had its own school, which first opened in 1899 in a rented house. Soon after, it moved into its own building. In 1911, the school moved again to a new building. This building was described as being made of galvanized iron on the outside, lined with ceiling board inside, and insulated with seaweed! The school eventually closed on December 31, 1955, because not enough students were attending.

The Upper Bright Zion Lutheran Church

A church called the Upper Bright Zion Lutheran Church opened in 1887. It was located on what is now the Worlds End Highway. This church also had a school that operated from 1887 until 1913, when it closed due to a lack of students. The church building itself has been taken down, but the cemetery next to it still remains.