Crystal Brook, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crystal BrookSouth Australia |
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The rising sun catching the Crystal Brook grain silos on a clear winter's morning; the town sports oval in the foreground
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 Crystal Brook
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 1873 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5523 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 115 m (377 ft) | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Port Pirie Regional Council | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Mid North | ||||||||||||||
| County | Southern Flinders Ranges | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Frome | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
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Crystal Brook is a lovely town in the Mid North of South Australia. It is about 197 kilometres (122 miles) north of the state capital, Adelaide. In 2021, about 1,322 people lived there.
The town is in a very beautiful spot, right at the start of the Flinders Ranges. It has many great places to see views and enjoy parks. Crystal Brook got its name from the clear, spring-fed creek that flows nearby.
Crystal Brook is the second biggest town in the Southern Flinders Ranges area, after Port Pirie. Its main street, Bowman Street, is lined with shady peppercorn trees. The explorer Edward John Eyre passed through this area in 1839. He named the sparkling clear water 'Chrystal Brook'.
The town has grown a bit recently, with new job chances in the area. Crystal Brook is located on Goyder's Line, which is a special line that shows where the climate changes from wet to dry. The town is surrounded by busy farms. Because the town has grown, new houses have been built on the western side, even across the creek.
The area has a mild mediterranean climate. This means it's good for farming. To the south and west, there's a lot of farming. To the north-west, the land is drier and less suitable for crops.
Crystal Brook is also close to Bowman Park. This nature park is in the Crystal Brook Valley. It has lots of wildlife and shady spots for camping right by the creek. The park has history from the 1800s. The old home of the Bowman Brothers, who the park is named after, is still there. It looks out over the Crystal Brook.
Summers in Crystal Brook are warm or hot and usually dry. Winters are wet and cold. Daytime temperatures are often around 13 degrees Celsius (55°F) or less. Nighttime temperatures are about 5 degrees Celsius (41°F). Many winter days are cloudy with light rain.
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Town History
The area around Crystal Brook was officially marked out in 1871. The town itself was surveyed in August 1874. It was officially named Crystal Brook on November 12, 1874.
Military Past
During World War II, Crystal Brook was home to a special fuel storage place for planes. It was called RAAF No.31 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot. It was built in 1942 and closed in 1944. These fuel depots were built all over Australia to store fuel for the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) and the US Army Air Forces.
Town Facilities
Water Supply
The Crystal Brook (creek) gave water to the town until 1890. That's when the Beetaloo Reservoir was finished. At the time, it was the biggest concrete dam in the southern half of the world!
Internet Access
Fast internet, called broadband, came to Crystal Brook on April 16, 2005. This happened after people living there asked for it. Both ADSL and ADSL2+ speeds became available for homes and businesses. The even faster National Broadband Network (NBN) wired services arrived on October 7, 2016. The local council also provides free WI-FI in the main street for everyone to use. Outside the town, NBN wireless broadband and satellite internet are available.
Travel and Transport
Crystal Brook is an important meeting point for trains. The Sydney–Perth and the Adelaide–Darwin railway lines both pass through here. These two lines share about 530 kilometres (329 miles) of track between Crystal Brook and Tarcoola. There's a special triangular junction here. It connects Tarcoola, Adelaide, and Sydney. Many trains pass through Crystal Brook every day in all directions.
Fun and Things to Do
Crystal Brook Show
The Crystal Brook Show has been held every year since the early 1880s. It's a big event for the community. However, the shows in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heysen Trail
The town is located on the Heysen Trail. This is a very long walking path, about 1200 kilometres (746 miles) long. It stretches from Cape Jervis to Parachilna Gorge.
Crystal Brook is about halfway along the trail. It also marks a change in the weather. To the north, summers are hot and dry, and winters are mild. To the south, the weather is more moderate.
Sports and Activities
Crystal Brook has many sports facilities. You can play hockey, tennis, croquet, golf, and lawn bowls. There's also netball, basketball, swimming, and a gym. Kids can play junior soccer. Other activities include horse riding, motor-cross, football, and cricket.
In regional sports, the town's colours are red and white. Most teams are known as 'The Roosters'. The Crystal Brook Football Club has won the Northern Areas Australian Rules Football Association championship a record 19 times! They won most recently in 2012. The town has also hosted a round of the Australian motor-cross championships twice.
Famous People
- Arthur Percy Sullivan – He received the Victoria Cross, a very brave award.
- Rob Kerin – He was the Premier of South Australia (like a state leader) for a short time between 2001 and 2002.
