Laura, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LauraSouth Australia |
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 Laura
Location in South Australia
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| Established | December 1871 (town), April 2001 (locality) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5480 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 248 m (814 ft)(former railway station) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACDT (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Northern Areas Council | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Yorke and Mid North | ||||||||||||||
| County | Victoria | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Stuart | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
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| Footnotes | Adjoining localities | ||||||||||||||
Laura is a small country town in the Mid North area of South Australia. It is about 12 kilometers north of Gladstone and 40 kilometers east of Port Pirie.
The first European to explore this area was Thomas Burr in September 1842. His good reports led to farmers settling here. One farmer was Herbert Bristow Hughes. When the town was planned, he named it after his wife, Laura.
Laura is managed by the Northern Areas Council. This is like a local government that helps run the town. Laura is also part of the state electoral district of Stuart and the federal Division of Grey.
The Laura Community Development and Tourism Association Incorporated works with the Northern Areas Council. They help keep the town nice and support community projects. Their main project is running the Laura Caravan Park. The money they earn helps improve the town.
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Cool Facts About Laura
Laura is a lively, artistic country town. About 650 people live here. It is located next to the Rocky River. The town is surrounded by the rolling hills of the Southern Flinders Ranges.
Golden North Ice Cream
Laura is famous for being the home of Golden North ice cream. This ice cream has been made in the town since 1923. The factory is the biggest employer in the area.
The Laura Fair
The Laura Fair is a big event held every year. It takes place on the first weekend of April. Many volunteers help to organize this fun fair. It has been held every year since it started, except during the COVID years.
Laura Markets
The Laura Markets are held several times a year. They are fundraising events. You can find them on the first Saturday of March, May, July, September, November, and December. They take place at the Laura Memorial Civic Centre.
The Spiny Daisy
The Spiny Daisy (Acanthocladium dockeri) is a special plant. It was found again near Laura in 1999. This plant was last seen in South Australia in 1910. It was discovered growing along a roadside.
Laura's Railway History
A railway line was built from Gladstone to Laura in 1884. It was later extended to Booleroo Centre in 1910. Finally, it reached Wilmington in 1915. Passenger trains stopped running in 1969. The railway line officially closed in 1990.
Historic Courthouse
The old Laura Courthouse is on Hughes Street. It is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. This means it is an important historical building.
Laura in the News
Between 1889 and 1948, Laura had its own newspaper. It was called the Standard. Its first name was Laura Standard. Later, it joined with other newspapers. It became Laura Standard and Crystal Brook Courier. In 1948, it merged again to form Northern Review. This newspaper later became The Flinders News.
Famous People From Laura
Laura has been home to some well-known people:
- C. J. Dennis (1876–1938), a famous Australian poet and writer.
- Gordon Jackett (1887–1951), a politician.
- Brenton Miels (1948–1997), an Australian Rules footballer.
