Cross Roads, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cross Roads South Australia
Former Cross Roads Primitive Methodist Church
Cross Roads Location in South Australia
Postcode(s)	5558
LGA(s)	Copper Coast Council
State electorate(s)	Narungga
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Localities around Cross Roads: North Moonta North Moonta Paramatta Paramatta North Moonta Cross Roads Paramatta Moonta Moonta Yelta
Footnotes	Coordinates

Cross Roads is a small place found at the northern tip of the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. It's like a smaller village that's very close to the town of Moonta. This area is part of the Copper Coast Council, a local government area.

What is Cross Roads Like?

This modern area was officially named and its borders set in January 1999. The land in Cross Roads is used for two main things. One is protecting its historical buildings and sites. The other is for farming and agriculture.

Protecting History

The southern part of Cross Roads is a special historic site. It's part of the Moonta Mines State Heritage Area. This means that any new buildings or changes in this area must help keep its 'historic character and cultural significance'. This helps make sure the old buildings and stories are saved for the future.

Farming and Land Use

The eastern side of Cross Roads is mostly used for farming. Here, people grow crops and raise animals like sheep or cattle. This land is divided into larger areas for agricultural production.

A Look at Cross Roads' Past

The village of Cross Roads first grew up where two important roads met. These were the roads leading to Wallaroo and Kadina.

Copper Mining History

North of the Cross Roads village, you'll find the Wheal Hughes copper mine. This mine was a very important underground operation in the 1860s. Later, in the 1990s, it was briefly worked as an open-pit mine. After that, it even became a place where tourists could visit and learn about mining.

Railways and Schools

Cross Roads also had its own railway station. It was on the Balaklava-Moonta railway line. However, the section of the line between Wallaroo and Moonta closed down on July 23, 1984. There was also a school in Cross Roads that operated from 1871 to 1878. In 1872, it had 97 students! An old cottage from the 1870s, built by a local miner named Richard Whitford, was listed as a special heritage site. Richard Whitford was the father of a politician named Stanley Whitford.

The Churches of Cross Roads

Cross Roads originally had three different Methodist churches. These were:

• A Primitive Methodist church, built in 1872.
• A Bible Christian church, built in 1873.
• A Wesleyan church, built in 1875.

In 1900, the people from these churches decided to join together. They continued to use the Bible Christian building as their main church. However, in 1973, a strong tornado destroyed the Bible Christian church and damaged the Primitive Methodist church. Because of this, the church members moved to the former Wesleyan church. Today, this Wesleyan church is known as the Cross Roads Uniting Church. The old Primitive Methodist church has since been sold. The Wesleyan church was also used for a time as a branch of the Moonta Mines Institute, starting in 1902.