Inverbrackie, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Inverbrackie Woodside, South Australia
Creek passing through Inverbrackie
Inverbrackie Location in South Australia
LGA(s)	Adelaide Hills Council

Inverbrackie is a small area located within the town of Woodside in South Australia, Australia. It's about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the center of Woodside.

Inverbrackie is home to the Woodside Barracks, which is an important army base. There are also homes and businesses in this area. It sits along the road that connects Nairne to Woodside.

History of Inverbrackie

First European Explorers

The Inverbrackie area was first explored by Europeans in January 1838. Dr. George Imlay and John Hill were the first to travel through this region. They were making the first journey across the Central Mount Lofty Ranges.

Early Settlers Arrive

The first European settlers were John and Margaret Murdoch from Scotland. They started a sheep farm here in early 1839. They named parts of the area Murdoch Valley and Murdoch Hill. Many early settlers were from Scotland and followed the Presbyterian church. This led to a Church of Scotland church being built in the early 1840s. Later, people from England and Germany also came to live in Inverbrackie.

Economy and Local Life

The land in Inverbrackie has many hills and trees, with some flat areas. This makes it good for raising animals. For a long time, dairy farming and raising livestock were the main ways people made a living. Some crops and vegetables were also grown.

Inverbrackie was once a stop for people traveling to Adelaide. It started with just a church, a pub, and a few small houses. In 1863, gold was found nearby. The biggest gold mine, called the Bird-in-Hand mine, opened in 1881. This mine gave jobs to many people for decades. It closed in the 1940s because of flooding. Today, the beautiful scenery and local wine production have made tourism more popular in the area.

Military Presence at Woodside Barracks

In the early 1920s, the Australian government bought land in Inverbrackie. They built an army camp there in 1927, which is now known as Woodside Barracks.

Woodside Camp During Wars

Between the two World Wars, the camp was used by units of the Citizens Forces. During the Second World War, the camp helped train new units for the Second Australian Imperial Force. Some US Army units were also based there.

Post-War Army Base

After the war, the base was home to different regular army units. Since 1981, it has mainly been used by the 16th Air Defence Regiment. This unit helps protect against air attacks.

Inverbrackie as a Refugee and Detention Site

Post-War Refugee Camp

After the Second World War, Inverbrackie was used as a refugee camp. Many people who had been displaced by the war found a temporary home here.

Immigration Detention Facility

In 2010, the Australian Federal Government announced that Inverbrackie would again house refugees. The 'Inverbrackie Alternative Place of Detention' was a low-security center. It was designed for families, and children living there attended local schools. The center was managed by a company called Serco and could hold up to 400 people.

While some people in the community were concerned at first, these worries eventually lessened. In early 2014, the government announced that the facility would close by the end of that year. The last asylum seekers left Inverbrackie in mid-December 2014.