Meningie, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MeningieSouth Australia |
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Meningie Hotel
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 Meningie
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 1866 (town) 2000 (locality) |
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| Postcode(s) | 5264 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACST (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | The Coorong District Council | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Murray and Mallee | ||||||||||||||
| County | Russell | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Mackillop | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Barker | ||||||||||||||
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| Footnotes | Location Adjoining localities |
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Meningie (/məˈnɪŋɡi/ mə-NING-ghee) is a charming town located on the south-east side of Lake Albert in South Australia. It sits right on the Princes Highway, close to the famous The Coorong area. The town was first planned and mapped out in 1866.
Contents
Meningie's Past: A Look Back in Time
The name Meningie comes from an Aboriginal word, "meningeng." This word means "place of mud," which makes sense given its lakeside location!
How Meningie Began
The town was officially surveyed, or mapped, between March and June of 1866. This was done by W. Farquhar. Land in Meningie was first offered for sale on August 23, 1866.
A school opened in Meningie in 1869, helping the town grow. A jetty was built in 1867. This allowed paddle steamers to travel between Meningie and other towns on Lake Albert and Lake Alexandrina. These boats operated until 1927 or 1928. Meningie stopped being a port in December 1936.
Modern Connections
Meningie was a pioneer in internet technology! In October 2003, it became the first place in Australia to get ADSL broadband internet without using a major phone company's equipment. A company called Agile Communications set up their own system. This showed how innovative the town could be.
Meningie's Weather: Climate Facts
Meningie has a climate that's like many places around the Mediterranean Sea. This means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wetter winters.
Temperature and Rainfall
In February, the average high temperature is around 26.3 degrees Celsius. In July, the coolest month, the average high is about 15.0 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperatures usually happen in July, averaging around 6.8 degrees Celsius.
Meningie gets a moderate amount of rain each year, about 467.5 millimeters. It rains on about 123.5 days a year. Even with the rain, the town enjoys many clear, sunny days. It has about 61 clear days and 120 cloudy days each year. The hottest day ever recorded was 46.1 degrees Celsius in January 2019. The coldest was -3.3 degrees Celsius in July 1972.
| Climate data for Meningie (35º41'24"S, 139º20'24"E, 3 m AMSL) (1966-2024 normals and extremes, rainfall to 1864) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 46.1 (115.0) |
44.2 (111.6) |
40.8 (105.4) |
35.3 (95.5) |
29.2 (84.6) |
25.3 (77.5) |
23.6 (74.5) |
25.5 (77.9) |
30.7 (87.3) |
36.4 (97.5) |
41.1 (106.0) |
42.3 (108.1) |
46.1 (115.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.2 (79.2) |
26.3 (79.3) |
24.4 (75.9) |
21.8 (71.2) |
18.3 (64.9) |
15.6 (60.1) |
15.0 (59.0) |
16.1 (61.0) |
18.2 (64.8) |
20.8 (69.4) |
23.1 (73.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
20.9 (69.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.2 (57.6) |
14.0 (57.2) |
12.7 (54.9) |
10.8 (51.4) |
8.9 (48.0) |
7.0 (44.6) |
6.8 (44.2) |
7.3 (45.1) |
8.4 (47.1) |
9.5 (49.1) |
11.4 (52.5) |
13.0 (55.4) |
10.3 (50.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 4.0 (39.2) |
4.7 (40.5) |
3.4 (38.1) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
2.5 (36.5) |
4.0 (39.2) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 18.5 (0.73) |
17.1 (0.67) |
21.7 (0.85) |
37.0 (1.46) |
54.8 (2.16) |
62.6 (2.46) |
61.2 (2.41) |
56.7 (2.23) |
47.8 (1.88) |
38.5 (1.52) |
27.9 (1.10) |
23.9 (0.94) |
467.5 (18.41) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 4.4 | 4.2 | 6.0 | 9.9 | 13.6 | 15.3 | 16.2 | 15.7 | 13.3 | 10.6 | 7.7 | 6.6 | 123.5 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 51 | 51 | 54 | 58 | 66 | 72 | 71 | 65 | 62 | 56 | 53 | 53 | 59 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 12.5 (54.5) |
12.9 (55.2) |
12.2 (54.0) |
11.1 (52.0) |
10.4 (50.7) |
9.4 (48.9) |
8.5 (47.3) |
8.0 (46.4) |
9.1 (48.4) |
9.3 (48.7) |
10.6 (51.1) |
11.8 (53.2) |
10.5 (50.9) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1966-2024 normals and extremes, rainfall to 1864) | |||||||||||||
Fun Things to Do in Meningie
Meningie is a great spot for visitors, especially since it's so close to the Coorong National Park. Lake Albert offers many beautiful places to enjoy.
Activities on the Lake
You can go fishing, swimming, or kayaking in the lake. If you like more action, try jet skiing or water skiing. Bird watchers will love seeing the many rare and special birds that live around the lake and its wetlands.
Exploring the Area
There are also 4WD tracks for off-road adventures and walking trails for bushwalking. You can learn about local Aboriginal culture at Camp Coorong. The Meningie Cheese Factory Museum Inc. is run by volunteers. It's a fun place to learn about the town's history. It's right next to the Cheese Factory Restaurant and the Lake Albert Caravan Park.
The Birdman Statue
In May 2013, a unique statue was revealed in Meningie. It shows an ostrich wearing a saddle! This statue celebrates a local legend, John Francis Peggotty. He was also known as the "Birdman of the Coorong."
Local News and Media
Meningie has its own community newspaper called The Lakelander. This magazine-style paper covers news from Meningie and nearby towns. These include Tailem Bend, Salt Creek, Narrung, Coonalpyn, and Tintinara. The first issue of The Lakelander came out on June 25, 1976.
Sports and Community Life
Meningie has a strong love for sports and community activities. The town has a well-kept oval and an 18-hole golf course. There are also bike tracks, motocross jumps, and a sailing club. For those who love to fly, there's even an airstrip for gliders, light aircraft, and balloons.
Meningie Bears Football Club
The town has a local Australian rules football club, known as the Meningie Bears. It was started around 1890. A famous player from Meningie, Brodie Martin, joined the Australian Football League (AFL) club Adelaide in 2007. He was the first player from Meningie to play for an AFL club. As of 2020, Alex Scott is the league coach.
Other Clubs and Groups
Meningie is home to many other sports clubs. These include the Meningie Motorcycle Club, Lake Albert Golf Club, and Meningie Sailing Club. There's also the Meningie Bowling Club, Meningie Pony Club, Meningie Netball Club, Meningie Aero Club, and Lake Albert Gun Club. Beyond sports, the community has a Meningie Garden Club, Meningie & Districts Lions Club, and several church groups that meet regularly.
How Meningie is Governed
Meningie is part of a larger system of government. It falls within the federal division of Barker. For state elections, it's in the electoral district of MacKillop. Locally, Meningie is managed by the Coorong District Council. These different levels of government help run the town and region.
