Curramulka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CurramulkaSouth Australia |
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Institute, built in 1885
|
|||||||||||||||
 Curramulka
Location in Yorke Peninsula Council
|
|||||||||||||||
| Established | 12 September 1878 (town) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5580 | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACST (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Yorke Peninsula Council | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Yorke and Mid North | ||||||||||||||
| County | Fergusson | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Narungga | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
| Footnotes | Adjoining localities | ||||||||||||||
Curramulka, often called "the Currie", is a small town in South Australia. It is located on the Yorke Peninsula, a beautiful coastal area. Curramulka is close to popular beach towns like Port Victoria and Port Vincent. It is about 15 kilometres (9 miles) north-east of Minlaton. The area is also known for its interesting caves.
Contents
Discovering Curramulka's Past
The land around Curramulka was first surveyed in 1874. The town's name comes from Aboriginal words. Curre means "emu" and mulka means "deep water hole". These words refer to the natural caves found nearby.
Early Days and Growth
Farmers began settling in the Curramulka area in the mid-1870s. The town grew quickly in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Farmers would send their crops and wool from nearby Port Julia to other places.
The Curramulka Institute
The Curramulka Institute was built in 1885. This building was like a community centre where people could learn and gather. It was common for towns to have these "mechanics' institutes" back then. More parts were added to the building in 1906, 1922, and 1939. In 1934, the local council took over the building. It is still used by the community today.
Changes Over Time
Over time, the town of Ardrossan became the main port for shipping goods in the region. This meant Curramulka became less important for trade. However, the town started to grow again in the 21st century.
Bushfire Event
On November 19, 2009, a large fire started in the paddocks near Curramulka. The fire spread across about 400 hectares (988 acres) of land.
Exploring the Curramulka Caves
Near Curramulka, there is a large system of limestone caves. These caves were first explored in 1850. Even more parts of the caves were discovered in 1984.
Cave System Details
The known passages in the caves stretch for about 14 kilometres (8.7 miles). They cover an area of about 400 by 300 metres (1,312 by 984 feet) and go down to a depth of 46 metres (151 feet). One of the longest caves in this region is called Corra-Lynn.
Sports in Curramulka
Curramulka has a strong history in sports, especially Australian Rules Football.
Football Success
A man named Vince Copley, who was a Ngadjuri person, became the coach and captain of the Curramulka AFL team. This team played in the Southern Yorke Peninsula Football League, which no longer exists. Under his leadership, the team won championships in 1957, 1958, and 1959. Vince Copley shared that playing for Curramulka was his first time feeling truly welcomed by the local community, after facing challenges in other towns. During those years, the town was lovingly known as "the Currie."
