Mindarie, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MindarieSouth Australia |
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 Mindarie
Location in South Australia
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| Population | 38 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 25 June 1914 (town) 11 November 1999 (locality) |
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| Postcode(s) | 5309 | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACDT (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | District Council of Karoonda East Murray | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Hammond | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Barker | ||||||||||||||
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| Footnotes | Adjoining localities | ||||||||||||||
Mindarie is a small town located in the Murray Mallee region of South Australia. It sits between the towns of Karoonda and Loxton. The town was officially recognized, or gazetted, in 1912. The name Mindarie is thought to come from the Dieri Aboriginal language. It might mean "festival to invoke peace."
Contents
Discover Mindarie!
Mindarie is a quiet place in the heart of South Australia. It is known for its history and a special annual event.
Mindarie's Past: Railways and Schools
Mindarie was once an important stop on the Barmera railway line. This railway line first opened in 1912. Today, Mindarie is no longer a stop on what is now called the Loxton railway line.
The first school in Mindarie opened in 1916. Classes were first held in the town's institute hall. In 1929, the school got its very own building. Today, students from Mindarie go to East Murray Area School. This school is about 10 kilometers northwest of Mindarie. It teaches around 50 students from their first year of school up to Year 12.
Mining in Mindarie
Mindarie is home to the Murray Zircon heavy mineral sands mine. This mine is owned and run by a Chinese company. There is a camp with 120 rooms for the mine workers. This camp is located right next to the Karoonda Highway. You can also see a large, unused processing plant from the highway.
The main mining work is now about 25 kilometers east, near a place called Galga. However, a new mine called Mercunda Mindarie Mine started in late 2023. It began full production of heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) in 2024. The mine provides jobs for about 100 direct employees. It also employs about 60 contractors.
Fun Events: The Mindarie-Halidon Races
Every September, Mindarie teams up with nearby Halidon to host the Mindarie-Halidon Races. This event is very popular! It is often called the "Melbourne Cup of the Mallee." It is a big day of horse racing and fun for everyone.
Mindarie's Population
The August 2016 Australian census counted the number of people living in Mindarie. The census reported that Mindarie had a population of 38 people.
