Minnipa, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MinnipaSouth Australia |
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 Minnipa
Location in South Australia
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| Population | 177 (2016 census) | ||||||||
| Established | 1915 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5654 | ||||||||
| Location | 250 km (155 mi) from Port Lincoln | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | Wudinna | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Flinders | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||
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Minnipa is a small town in South Australia. It is located on the Eyre Peninsula. The town helps the local farmers who grow grain.
Contents
Minnipa's Past: A Look at Its History
The Nauo people were the first people to live in the Minnipa area. European settlers arrived in 1878. The town started to grow when the railway line opened on May 5, 1913. At first, there were only two tents!
How the Town Grew
More people came to the area after the railway. The town grew even faster when a water pipeline opened in 1925. This pipeline brought water from the Tod River scheme. By 1960, Minnipa was a very important railway hub. It was the main centre between Cummins and Thevenard.
Before the pipeline, people collected rainwater. They built tanks near large granite rocks. These rocks are a common sight in the area. The first tanks were built at Minnipa Hill in 1914. These old tanks were fixed up in the 1990s. They now help provide water for Minnipa if needed.
Minnipa: A Farming Town
The town was officially named in 1915. It became a typical "wheatbelt" town. This means it served the farms around it. It helped farmers store and transport their grain.
Minnipa has large grain silos. These silos store the wheat crop. There is also an old railway siding next to them. This siding used to send grain to Port Lincoln. Now, trucks carry the grain by road. It is then shipped all over the world.
Life in Minnipa Today
Minnipa is a rural town. It has several churches and a general store. You can also find a caravan park and a pub. There is a fodder store and a vet clinic too.
The town loves sports! People enjoy swimming, Australian Rules football, tennis, netball, and table tennis.
Amazing Rock Formations
Minnipa is close to the west coast of Eyre Peninsula. It is also near the Gawler Ranges. The area is known for its many granite rocks. These rocks have been shaped by the wind.
These granite rocks are called "outcrops" or "bornhardts." Their wavy shapes and colours formed over a long time. Water slowly broke down the granite underground. Then, the soil above wore away. This left the amazing rocks exposed.
Explorer Edward John Eyre noticed these rocks. Later, an expedition mapped them. They recorded the native names of the outcrops. Some famous ones are Tcharkulda, Yarwondutta, Minnipa, Chilpuddie, and Pildappa.
About 15 km north of Minnipa is Pildappa Rock. Its incredible flowing shapes are like the famous Wave Rock in Western Australia.
Minnipa's Weather: A Semi-Arid Climate
Minnipa has a semi-arid climate. This means it has hot, dry summers. Its winters are mild and a bit wet. The weather information here uses data from a newer weather station. This station is very close to the old one.
| Climate data for Minnipa (32º50'24"S, 135º09'00"E, 165 m AMSL) (1996-2024 normals, 1965-2024 extremes, sun 1977-2001) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 48.0 (118.4) |
46.0 (114.8) |
44.4 (111.9) |
40.0 (104.0) |
31.2 (88.2) |
26.5 (79.7) |
30.0 (86.0) |
32.3 (90.1) |
36.6 (97.9) |
40.8 (105.4) |
45.4 (113.7) |
47.2 (117.0) |
48.0 (118.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32.9 (91.2) |
32.2 (90.0) |
28.9 (84.0) |
24.9 (76.8) |
20.2 (68.4) |
16.7 (62.1) |
16.3 (61.3) |
17.8 (64.0) |
21.8 (71.2) |
25.3 (77.5) |
28.5 (83.3) |
30.6 (87.1) |
24.7 (76.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) |
15.9 (60.6) |
14.3 (57.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
9.7 (49.5) |
7.4 (45.3) |
6.7 (44.1) |
6.8 (44.2) |
8.3 (46.9) |
10.3 (50.5) |
12.5 (54.5) |
14.3 (57.7) |
11.2 (52.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 5.8 (42.4) |
6.9 (44.4) |
5.3 (41.5) |
4.5 (40.1) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
0.1 (32.2) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
0.1 (32.2) |
1.4 (34.5) |
2.1 (35.8) |
5.3 (41.5) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 13.5 (0.53) |
15.0 (0.59) |
17.5 (0.69) |
15.6 (0.61) |
27.6 (1.09) |
36.5 (1.44) |
34.0 (1.34) |
38.1 (1.50) |
27.0 (1.06) |
22.6 (0.89) |
20.9 (0.82) |
20.7 (0.81) |
289.8 (11.41) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 2.3 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 5.1 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 5.1 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 51.1 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 25 | 27 | 31 | 35 | 46 | 54 | 56 | 51 | 43 | 32 | 28 | 28 | 38 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 6.2 (43.2) |
7.4 (45.3) |
6.0 (42.8) |
5.6 (42.1) |
6.3 (43.3) |
5.9 (42.6) |
5.8 (42.4) |
5.1 (41.2) |
5.0 (41.0) |
3.2 (37.8) |
4.0 (39.2) |
5.2 (41.4) |
5.5 (41.9) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 322.4 | 271.2 | 266.6 | 225.0 | 179.8 | 168.0 | 182.9 | 207.7 | 225.0 | 266.6 | 276.0 | 291.4 | 2,882.6 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 74 | 72 | 70 | 67 | 56 | 56 | 58 | 61 | 63 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 65 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1996-2024 normals, 1965-2024 extremes, sun 1977-2001) | |||||||||||||
Places of Historical Importance
Minnipa has several sites that are listed for their historical value. These places are important to the area's heritage:
- Pildappa Road: Pildappa Rock
- Yardea Road: Yarwondutta Rock and Quarry
- Yardea Road: Yarwondutta Rock Tank
Images for kids
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Panoramic view from Pildappa Rock within the locality of Minnipa showing the Gawler Ranges on the right
