Ucolta, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ucolta South Australia
Ucolta Location in South Australia
Postcode(s)	5422
Elevation	532 m (1,745 ft)
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
• Summer (DST)	ACST (UTC+10:30)
LGA(s)	District Council of Peterborough
Region	Yorke and Mid North
County	Kimberley
State electorate(s)	Stuart
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 21.9 °C 71 °F 7.3 °C 45 °F 365.7 mm 14.4 in
Localities around Ucolta: Minvalara Dawson Dawson Minvalara Peterborough Sunnybrae Ucolta Parnaroo Terowie Terowie Franklyn
Footnotes	Adjoining localities

Ucolta is a small area in the Mid North region of South Australia. It got its name from a railway station. This station was part of the Broken Hill-Port Pirie railway line. Today, trains do not stop at Ucolta anymore.

Ucolta is also where the Barrier Highway first meets the railway line. Another important road, the Wilmington–Ucolta Road, connects across the northern part of the Mid North. This road offers the shortest way to travel from Western Australia and Eyre Peninsula (through Port Augusta) to Broken Hill and New South Wales.

The name Ucolta was first written down in 1862. It was an Aboriginal name, but sadly, its original meaning is now unknown. The old Ucolta Post Office used to be inside the railway station building.

The Lost Town of Lancelot

A town called Lancelot was planned in April 1877. It was located near the Barrier Highway, where it crosses the Willanowie Creek. This spot is about 4.5 kilometers south of the Ucolta railway station.

What Happened to Lancelot?

Today, almost nothing is left of the original town of Lancelot, except for its cemetery. Because the town no longer existed, the state government officially declared it gone on May 22, 1980. The area where Lancelot once stood is now part of the Ucolta locality. The Lancelot cemetery is still looked after by the District Council of Peterborough.

Why Lancelot Didn't Grow

People expected the railway line, which was being built north from Terowie, to pass through Lancelot. However, the railway was built further west instead. It was designed to meet the east-west railway line at a town called Peterborough. This change meant Lancelot did not become a major railway town.

In the 1890s, Lancelot had both government and Catholic schools. This shows it was once a small community.

Voting in the Area

For the 1925 Australian federal election, the voting place in Lancelot was closed. A new voting place was opened in Ucolta instead. A total of 49 votes were cast at the Ucolta polling booth during that election.