Jamestown, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamestown South Australia
Main street
Jamestown Location in South Australia
Established	1871
Postcode(s)	5491
Location	207 km (129 mi) N of Adelaide 66 km (41 mi) E of Port Pirie 43 km (27 mi) SW of Peterborough
LGA(s)	Northern Areas Council
State electorate(s)	Stuart
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Localities around Jamestown: Hornsdale Mannanarie Yongala Sunnybrae Caltowie Caltowie North Jamestown Belalie North Caltowie West Bundaleer Bundaleer North Belalie East

Jamestown is a town located in the Mid North area of South Australia. It is about 207 kilometers (129 miles) north of Adelaide, the state capital. The town sits by the Belalie Creek and is on a railway line that connects Adelaide and Perth to Sydney. Jamestown is also the main town for the Northern Areas Council.

Discovering Jamestown's History

Jamestown was first surveyed in 1871. It was named after Sir James Fergusson. He was the Governor of South Australia at that time. All the streets in Jamestown are named after towns in his home country, Scotland.

What Jamestown Produces

The main things produced in the Jamestown area are grain (like wheat), legumes (like peas and beans), wool, and timber. A very special forest, the Bundaleer Forest, was first planted here in 1876. This was the world's first plantation forest, meaning trees were planted specifically for timber.

How Jamestown Grew

The local area first gained self-government in 1875 as the District Council of Belalie. The town of Jamestown itself became a separate municipality in 1878. Over time, these local governments merged. Today, Jamestown is part of the Northern Areas Council.

Big Battery Project Nearby

In 2017, a huge battery was built near Jamestown. It is located at the Hornsdale Wind Farm in Hornsdale. This battery was built by the US company Tesla. It was the largest of its kind in the world when it was finished. This project was a big step for storing power on a country's electricity grid.

Famous Faces from Jamestown

Many interesting people have come from Jamestown.

• Sir John Cockburn was the town's first mayor. He was also a doctor and later became the Premier of South Australia in 1889–1890.
• R. M. Williams (1908–2003) was born here. He became a famous Australian bush outfitter. He is known for his tough outdoor clothing and boots.
• Sir Raphael Cilento (1893–1985) was a pioneer in tropical medicine. He was also a noted public servant. His daughter was the actress Diane Cilento.
• Paul Cronin (1938–2019) was a well-known actor.
• Edgar Mayne (1882-1961) was a test cricketer.

R. M. Williams Monument, Jamestown South Australia

Jamestown's Military Story

Jamestown has a proud military history. You can see monuments in the town that tell this story. In Memorial Park, there is a restored 1907 Krupp SFH02 Cannon. This cannon was captured in Palestine during World War I in November 1917. Later, it was given to the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment.

Historic Places in Jamestown

Several buildings in Jamestown are listed as important heritage sites. This means they are protected because of their historical value.

• 21 Ayr Street: National Australia Bank Building
• 42 Ayr Street: Eudunda Farmers Store
• Irvine Street: Trooper Goodes Memorial
• 5 Irvine Street: Jamestown Post Office and Dwelling

Fun Events in Jamestown

Jamestown hosts several exciting events. In the spring of 2016, for example, the town had three big events:

• The Jamestown Racing Club's annual Horse racing meeting, which included the Jamestown Cup.
• A Mural Fest, celebrating art and murals.
• The Jamestown Show, a local fair.