Koppio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Koppio South Australia
Koppio Location in South Australia
Population	63 (2016 census)
Established	1998
Postcode(s)	5607
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
• Summer (DST)	ACST (UTC+10:30)
Location	256 km (159 mi) W of Adelaide 32 km (20 mi) N of Port Lincoln
LGA(s)	District Council of Tumby Bay
Region	Eyre Western
County	Flinders
State electorate(s)	Flinders
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 21.3 °C 70 °F 11.4 °C 53 °F 393.9 mm 15.5 in
Localities around Koppio: Edillilie Yallunda Flat Tumby Bay Edillilie Koppio Tumby Bay Wanilla Whites Flat Whites River Whites River
Footnotes	Locations Adjoining localities

Koppio is a small place in South Australia, found on the Eyre Peninsula. It's about 256 kilometers west of Adelaide, the state capital. It's also about 32 kilometers north of Port Lincoln. This area is part of the Tod River catchment.

People in Koppio mostly work in farming. They raise sheep, cattle, and even buffalo. They also grow crops like wheat. The land around Koppio also has valuable minerals like graphite and iron ore. A popular spot to visit is the Koppio Smithy Museum. It shows what life was like for early settlers on the Eyre Peninsula.

Discovering Minerals in Koppio

For many years, companies have been looking for valuable minerals in the Koppio area. In the early 2000s, companies like Eyre Iron Pty Ltd and Lincoln Minerals were actively exploring here.

Iron Ore Mining Plans

Eyre Iron's big plan was called the Fusion Magnetite Project. This was the most advanced idea for a new mine in the area. It aimed to dig for iron ore.

Graphite Mining History

People first started mining graphite in Koppio way back in 1866. The Koppio Graphite Mine was open in the early 1900s. It was also used again between 1941 and 1944.

The Koppio Smithy Museum

The Koppio Smithy Museum is a special place managed by the National Trust of South Australia. It covers about 2.5 acres (1 hectare) and has many old buildings and items from the early days of the Eyre Peninsula.

Stepping Back in Time

When you visit, you enter through the old Smithy's cottage. A man named Tom Brennand built this cottage in 1903 after moving from Lochiel. One interesting thing at the museum is a copy of a World War I tank. This tank was left in the sand dunes of Coffin Bay after being used in the movie The Lighthorsemen.

What You Can See at the Museum

The museum has many different exhibits for you to explore:

• A restored blacksmith shop and a two-bedroom cottage.
• The 'Glenleigh' thatch cottage, built in 1890.
• The old Koppio one-teacher schoolhouse, which was used from 1934 to 1970.
• A special collection of very old Aboriginal items.
• A tailor shop from Port Lincoln, dating back to 1910.
• The old Bank of Adelaide building.
• The White Flat Post Office, which is said to be the smallest Post Office in South Australia.
• The Heritage Hall, showing items from the Jericho family.
• Display sheds filled with tractors, farm machinery, engines, and exhibits about shearing, grain, hay, and vehicles.
• A print room, showing old printing equipment.

Visiting the Museum

As of 2014, the museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. Entry costs $10 for adults and $4 for children or those with concessions.

Koppio Cemetery

The Koppio Cemetery is where people from the area are buried. It has 36 graves, with the oldest one dating back to 1866.

How Koppio is Governed

Koppio is part of a few different government areas. For national elections, it's in the federal Division of Grey. For state elections, it's in the electoral district of Flinders. Locally, it's managed by the District Council of Tumby Bay.