Elliston, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids EllistonSouth Australia |
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The town centre
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 Elliston
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 1878 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5670 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 16 m (52 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 641 km (398 mi) W of Adelaide | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | District Council of Elliston | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Flinders | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
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| Footnotes | Adjoining localities | ||||||||||||||
Elliston is a small town located on the coast of South Australia. It sits on the west side of the Eyre Peninsula. Elliston is about 169 km northwest of Port Lincoln. It is also 641 km west of Adelaide. The town is right on Waterloo Bay. In 2021, about 333 people lived in Elliston.
Contents
History of Elliston
The very first people to live in the area now known as Elliston were the Nauo people. They are an Aboriginal group from this land.
Early Explorers
The first European to explore the nearby coast was Matthew Flinders. He sailed his ship, the HMS Investigator, here in February 1802. He named the islands off the coast. However, he did not write about Waterloo Bay in his logbook.
Later, Edward John Eyre explored the land. He traveled through this area in 1840 and 1841. He was on a long journey from Port Lincoln to Western Australia.
How Elliston Got Its Name
The town was first called Waterloo Bay. But in 1878, Governor Sir William Jervois officially named it Elliston. It was named after Ellen Liston. She was a writer and teacher born in London in 1838. Ellen moved to South Australia in 1850. She worked as a governess on a local farm called Nilkerloo.
Some people used to think the town was named after a military hero. They thought it was named after Sir Henry Walton Ellis. He was a hero of the Battle of Waterloo. But records show that Governor Jervois liked to name places after people he knew. The town was even called "Ellie's Town" informally before its official name. The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper wrote that Ellen Liston was widely respected. This, along with Jervois's habit, led to the town being named after her.
Early Settlement and Challenges
People started settling in this area in the 1840s. Elliston became an important port. Early settlers used it to send their wool and wheat to market. Sailing ships and later steamships used to cross Waterloo Bay. However, the bay's entrance had dangerous reefs. Many ships got stuck or sank because of the narrow entrance and changing tides.
The arrival of European settlers had a very hard impact on the Nauo people. There was a lot of conflict and violence in this area. The Waterloo Bay Massacre happened near Elliston in 1869. This event, also known as the Elliston Massacre, involved violence against Aboriginal people. There are also many other recorded acts of violence from this time.
Geography of Elliston
The town of Elliston is located on Waterloo Bay. This is a small inlet of the coast. It is partly protected by reefs at its entrance. Outside the bay, the coast has large cliffs. There are also several surf beaches along these parts of the coast.
Inside Waterloo Bay, the water is usually calm and shallow. You can find seagrass beds and reefs underwater. Sandy beaches line most of the bay. Inland from the town, the land is mostly flat. It is used for farming. The southern part of the Lake Newland Conservation Park is about 10 km north of Elliston.
Off the coast, Flinders Island is about 32 km west-southwest of Wellington Point in Elliston.
Climate in Elliston
Elliston has a climate known as a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers. The winters are mild and wetter. Ocean breezes help keep summer temperatures moderate. For example, the average high in January is 26.0 °C. But sometimes, hot winds from the Outback can cause heatwaves. Temperatures can go above 40.0 °C.
Winter temperatures are more steady. They range from about 7.1 °C to 16.5 °C in July. The town gets about 425.9 mm of rain each year. Most of this rain falls in winter showers.
| Climate data for Elliston (33º39'00"S, 134º53'24"E, 7 m AMSL) (1962-2024 normals and extremes, rainfall to 1882) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 44.3 (111.7) |
43.5 (110.3) |
42.2 (108.0) |
39.1 (102.4) |
33.0 (91.4) |
28.6 (83.5) |
30.0 (86.0) |
29.5 (85.1) |
35.4 (95.7) |
42.3 (108.1) |
44.0 (111.2) |
43.5 (110.3) |
44.3 (111.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.0 (78.8) |
25.7 (78.3) |
24.3 (75.7) |
22.5 (72.5) |
19.6 (67.3) |
17.2 (63.0) |
16.5 (61.7) |
17.3 (63.1) |
19.5 (67.1) |
21.8 (71.2) |
23.6 (74.5) |
24.8 (76.6) |
21.6 (70.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.8 (60.4) |
15.9 (60.6) |
14.4 (57.9) |
12.3 (54.1) |
10.3 (50.5) |
8.5 (47.3) |
7.9 (46.2) |
8.3 (46.9) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.2 (52.2) |
13.1 (55.6) |
14.7 (58.5) |
11.8 (53.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 5.7 (42.3) |
6.4 (43.5) |
4.0 (39.2) |
1.6 (34.9) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
2.2 (36.0) |
4.2 (39.6) |
4.8 (40.6) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 11.3 (0.44) |
13.5 (0.53) |
14.7 (0.58) |
27.1 (1.07) |
51.9 (2.04) |
72.5 (2.85) |
70.2 (2.76) |
59.2 (2.33) |
39.0 (1.54) |
30.0 (1.18) |
19.7 (0.78) |
16.6 (0.65) |
425.9 (16.77) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 3.4 | 3.1 | 4.4 | 7.5 | 11.8 | 14.6 | 15.6 | 14.6 | 11.1 | 8.9 | 5.9 | 4.6 | 105.5 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 60 | 63 | 64 | 63 | 66 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 63 | 61 | 59 | 60 | 63 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) |
15.1 (59.2) |
14.0 (57.2) |
12.6 (54.7) |
11.2 (52.2) |
9.7 (49.5) |
9.1 (48.4) |
9.0 (48.2) |
9.7 (49.5) |
10.7 (51.3) |
11.9 (53.4) |
13.3 (55.9) |
11.7 (53.1) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1962-2024 normals and extremes, rainfall to 1882) | |||||||||||||
Elliston's Economy
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Elliston's economy relies on three main things: farming, fishing, and tourism. On the nearby farmland, farmers grow barley and wheat. They also raise sheep.
Fishing is a big part of the economy too. People dive for abalone, catch lobster, and other fish.
Tourism is also very important. The town has two caravan parks. There are also motels and a hotel for visitors. Many people come to Elliston for fishing, swimming, and other water activities in the calm bay.
Surfing is popular along the coast. However, it's important to be aware of local conditions and safety advice. Many surf beaches are also good for catching salmon, mulloway, and shark. Lock's Well is one of the well-known beaches for fishing.
Community Life in Elliston
The town of Elliston has many things for its community. There are several sporting clubs and facilities. You can also find churches, a hotel, and various local businesses. These include a bakery and a hair salon.
A famous person from Elliston is Cameron Hitchcock. He used to play football for the Port Adelaide Power team.
Historic Buildings to See
The Elliston Hall was opened in 1968. It is famous for its large mural. Local community members helped paint this mural. Artists Siv Grava and John Turpie guided them. This mural is the largest of its kind in Australia. It covers over 500 square meters. It shows the history of life in Elliston.
The first building for the District Council of Elliston was built in 1913. It is still standing today. You can find it next to the Waterloo Bay Caravan Park.
The Country Women's Association Rooms were special. They were the first rooms built by this organization in South Australia. They opened on July 4, 1936.
The Post Office opened on August 13, 1880. It is the oldest public building in Elliston that is still used. The first Police Station was built in 1881. It was used until 1971 and still stands today.
Places Listed for Heritage
Elliston has several sites that are listed for their heritage value. This means they are important historical places.
- Flinders Highway: Oaklands Shearing Shed
- off Flinders Highway: Elliston Cast Iron Lead Light
- off Flinders Highway: Elliston Jetty
- 9 Memorial Drive: Elliston Country Women's Association Rest Rooms
