Mannanarie, South Australia facts for kids

Mannanarie is a small country area in the Mid North region of South Australia. It is part of the Northern Areas Council. The area was officially named in April 2001.

The name 'Mannanarie' comes from an Aboriginal word, "manangari". It means "good string or cord". This name came from a local native plant that was useful for making strong string.

The History of Mannanarie

Early Days and First Peoples

Long ago, the land around Mannanarie belonged to the Ngadjuri people. They were the first inhabitants of this area.

In the 1850s, European settlers started using the land. They set up large farms for animals, known as the Mannanarie Run. By 1871, this land was divided into smaller plots. This allowed more people to buy land and settle there.

Growing the Town

When Mannanarie was first surveyed in 1872, it did not have many buildings. People were just starting to build their homes. Many early houses were simple shelters. They were often made from iron sheets or tarpaulins. In the 1870s, farmers in the area mainly grew wheat. This became a very important crop for the district.

Important Buildings and Services

Mannanarie started to get more services in the 1870s. A post office opened in March 1874. A church for the Primitive Methodist community also opened later that same year. By 1875, a store and a private school were also open.

A proper town area was planned in 1877. The Mannanarie Hotel received its license in 1879. More buildings were added in 1880, including an Anglican church and a new Primitive Methodist church. A blacksmith, more stores, and a public school opened in 1882. A racing club was even started in 1891.

Changes Over Time

The Anglican church closed in 1896 and was later taken down. However, the Mannanarie Institute was built on its site in 1912. This building later became the Mannanarie Public Hall. The hotel's license was not renewed in 1917, so it closed.

By 1918, the town had a hall, a school, a post office, three homes, a store, and a blacksmith. In 1955, Mannanarie was badly affected by the Black Sunday bushfires. Regular church services stopped in 1966, and the school closed in 1970. In 1970, the Crystal Brook-Broken Hill railway line was rerouted to pass through Mannanarie.

Mannanarie Today

In 2012, Mannanarie was described as a very small town. It had only a few buildings left. These included an old hall, an empty stone church, a closed school, and a couple of houses. The Mannanarie Public Hall was fixed up in 2012 for its 100th birthday. It had become quite old and worn out before the renovations.

Local Government

Mannanarie has been part of different local councils over the years:

• From 1888 to 1935, it was part of the District Council of Yongala.
• From 1935 to 1997, it was part of the District Council of Jamestown.
• Since 1997, it has been part of the Northern Areas Council.