Halbury, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids HalburySouth Australia |
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Western entry sign, Halbury
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 Halbury
Location in South Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 5461 | ||||||||||||||
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| Region | Mid North | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Goyder | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
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Halbury is a small town in South Australia. It used to be an important railway town. You can find it west of the beautiful Clare Valley. It's about halfway between the towns of Balaklava and Auburn.
Contents
Where Did the Name Halbury Come From?
Halbury is located in an area called the Hundred of Hall. This area was named after a politician named George Hall. So, the town's name, Halbury, comes from his last name.
Halbury's Railway History
Halbury was once a busy stop on a railway line. This line was called the Port Wakefield railway line. It was a special kind of railway because it was originally pulled by horses! It connected the town of Balaklava and Hoyleton to the port at Port Wakefield. Halbury was an important spot because this railway crossed a main road, the Gulf Road. This road connected towns like Auburn and Burra to the port.
Later, another railway line, the Gladstone railway line, also passed through Halbury. This line went from Hamley Bridge through Balaklava and on to Blyth. It continued further into the Mid North region of South Australia.
- At first, this railway line was a narrow gauge line. This means the tracks were closer together (1067mm wide).
- In 1927, the tracks were changed to broad gauge. This made them wider (1600mm).
Over time, trains became less common for transporting goods and people. Because of this, the railway line became less important. The tracks were eventually taken apart in the late 1980s. After Halbury, the railway line used to curve towards the north-east. It would then go to towns like Hoyleton, Kybunga, and further north to Blyth.
The railway stop in Halbury opened in 1870. It stopped handling goods and parcels in 1981.
The Shamus Liptrot Cycling Trail
The old railway line from Halbury to Balaklava has been given a new life! In 2016, it was turned into a 12-kilometer cycling trail. This trail is mostly flat, which makes it easy to ride.
It was named the Shamus Liptrot Cycling Trail. Shamus Liptrot was a talented young cyclist from the area. Sadly, he passed away in 2011 after a cycling accident. The trail connects Balaklava to Halbury, which was Shamus's hometown. This trail is also a key part of a longer 26-kilometer path called the Copper Trail. The Copper Trail stretches from Leasingham in the Clare Valley all the way to Port Wakefield.
Remembering the Railway: Signboard Project
In 2022, a special project helped remember Halbury's railway past. A group of people who love railways put up a new sign. This sign is an exact copy of the original Halbury railway station sign.
There's a plaque on the sign that tells its story. It says: "This is the site of the Halbury railway siding, 74 Miles, 1 Chain. 1870 – 1981. Sign made and reinstalled Easter 2022 by J. Leigh and E. Green, Railway Infrastructure Services. This sign would not be here if not for Lorraine Zaharuiko, 1984-2021. John 3:16-21." This project helps keep the history of Halbury's railway alive for everyone to see.
Images for kids
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The area where the railway yard used to be.
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The gate at the Halbury War Memorial.
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A crossing point (ford) at Hellfire Creek.
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A monument on the Copper Trail, east of Halbury.
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The new Halbury railway station sign that was put up.
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The plaque attached to the new railway station sign.
