Hart, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids HartSouth Australia |
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 Hart
Location in South Australia
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| Population | 45 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5464 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 182 m (597 ft) | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Wakefield Regional Council | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Electoral district of Frome | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Division of Grey | ||||||||||||||
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Hart is a small community located in the Mid North region of South Australia. Its official boundaries were set in January 2000, though the name had been used for a long time.
A railway siding, which is a short track for trains to stop, was once in Hart. This siding was part of the Gladstone railway line but closed in 1989. Today, the main activity in the Hart area is growing cereal crops like wheat and barley.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of Hart
The area of Hart was named after an important person in South Australian history. In 1864, a land division called the Hundred of Hart was created. This "Hundred" system was a way to divide land for administrative purposes.
It was named after Captain John Hart. He was a member of the colony's parliament. At the time, he was the Treasurer of South Australia, managing the colony's money. Later, he even became the Premier, which is like the leader of the state government.
Hart's Location and Landscape
The Hundred of Hart is located on flat land and the western side of the Yackamoorundie Range. This range was once known as the Middle Range. The eastern edge of the Hundred follows the top of this range for about 18 kilometers (11 miles). This part of the land is mostly above 400 meters (1,300 feet) in height.
The southern border of Hart connects with the northern border of another area called the Hundred of Blyth. The northern and western boundaries are straight lines. The western boundary is now mostly a road, which includes the main street of Brinkworth. This area is lower, below 200 meters (650 feet) in height. The current community of Hart covers almost the southern half of the original Hundred.
In 1865, a government town called Anama was planned in this area. However, it never fully developed and officially stopped existing in 1924. Anama was named after a nearby property owned by George Charles Hawker. This property was close to what is now the border between Hart and Rochester.
Community Life: School and Church
Hart once had its own school, which was open from 1895 to 1922. The people living in the district really wanted a school for their children. They eventually built a stone building to serve as a community hall. This hall was used for many things, including a public school and a place for religious services.
One famous student from the Hart school was Sir Lyell McEwin. He was born in the area and later became a very important person in South Australian politics.
The Annie McEwin Snow Presbyterian Memorial Church opened in 1923. It was named in memory of Alexander Lyell McEwin Snr's daughter, Annie, who passed away at only 30 years old. Her father and father-in-law helped pay for the church's construction. This church was built right next to the Hart hall, which had also been the school. The church closed in 1976 and is now a private home.
Hart Field Site: Testing New Crops
The Hart Field Site is a special place where new farming methods are tested. It covers about 40 hectares (100 acres) and is used for agronomic field trials. Agronomy is the science of soil management and crop production. Here, scientists and farmers test different broadacre crops, which are large-scale crops like wheat and barley, and new ways of growing them.
The site is owned by the Hart Field-Site Group. This group started as a committee in 1982. They bought this permanent testing site in 2000. The Wakefield Regional Council helped them financially. Before owning this site, the group used private land nearby for their trials.
