Mintabie, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MintabieSouth Australia |
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 Mintabie
Location in South Australia
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| Population | 30 (2017 GSA) | ||||||||
| Established | 1978 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5724 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 353 m (1,158 ft) | ||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Giles | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||
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Mintabie is a small town in South Australia. It is known for opal mining. Mintabie is located in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.
Unlike most towns in the APY Lands, many people living in Mintabie were not Aboriginal Australian. The land was leased to the Government of South Australia for opal mining since the 1980s.
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What Time Zone Does Mintabie Use?
The APY Lands do not use daylight saving time. This is different from the rest of South Australia.
Mintabie uses Australian Central Standard Time (UTC+9:30) all year. This is the same time zone as Darwin. It is not the same as Adelaide. This is because Mintabie is close to the Northern Territory border.
A Brief History of Mintabie
In 1981, the Anangu people gained full ownership of the APY Lands. This was after long and difficult talks. As part of these talks, the Anangu agreed to lease the small area where Mintabie is located back to the government.
When the Anangu started fighting for their land rights in 1976, not much opal mining was happening in Mintabie. But then, many people started looking for opal there. So, by the time the South Australian Parliament was thinking about giving land rights to the Anangu, more opal miners were setting up in Mintabie.
In November 1978, a new law was suggested to give land rights to the Pitjantjatjara people. A group of miners from Mintabie strongly disagreed with this law.
After a state election, the Anangu talked again with the new government. They reached an agreement on October 2, 1980. The Pitjantjatjara Council, which represented all Anangu, agreed to a new law.
This new law, called the "Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Bill 1980," was introduced on October 23, 1980. It suggested giving a large area of land, including Mintabie, to the Anangu. The law also said that opal mining could continue in Mintabie. It set rules for this activity. Miners would have certain rights to stay there. But the Anangu could also ask people to leave Mintabie if needed.
On November 25, 1980, the law was sent to a special committee. This committee visited Mintabie and the Anangu community of Iwantja.
After many discussions, the committee suggested that the Mintabie area should be part of the land given to the Anangu. But it would be leased back to the government for 21 years. This way, the government could give yearly permits to people who wanted to live and work in Mintabie.
The committee shared its report on March 3, 1981. The law then went through Parliament.
On October 2, 1981, the Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 officially started. From that day, the town of Mintabie was leased by the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara to the government for 21 years.
Where is Mintabie Located?
Mintabie is located west of the Stuart Highway. It is about 35 kilometers northwest of Marla. It is also about 980 kilometers northwest of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Mintabie is about 200 kilometers south of the Northern Territory border.
Mintabie is in a low-lying area, like a bowl. There is a lake basin nearby.
The land where Mintabie is located is leased by the state government from the Anangu people. The first lease for the town ended in 2002. On December 3, 2009, a new law was passed. This law created a plan for a new lease.
What is the Climate Like in Mintabie?
Mintabie's weather is similar to Marla. In January, the average high temperature is about 37.1 degrees Celsius. In June, the average high is about 19.7 degrees Celsius.
Overnight, the lowest temperatures are about 21.8 degrees in January. In June, they drop to about 5.0 degrees. Mintabie gets about 222.6 millimeters of rain each year.
Native Animals in Mintabie
Many native animals live around Mintabie. You might see galahs, which are colorful birds. There are also lizards like the thorny devil and the netted dragon. Larger lizards called goannas are also common.
Mintabie's Population
In October 2017, the South Australian government estimated Mintabie's population was about 30 people. However, this number could go up to about 60 people at different times of the year. In the 1970s and 1980s, Mintabie had over 500 residents.
Facilities and Services in Mintabie
Mintabie has an airstrip that can be used in all weather. It also has a school. You can get fuel and services seven days a week.
The Mintabie Hotel, also known as the Goanna Grill and Bar, offers places to stay. It has 6 rooms and 2 self-contained units. There is also a caravan park with 24-hour power. Mintabie has another caravan park too.
The Mintabie health clinic, called the "Clarice Megaw Clinic," opened in 1990. It was named after a gift that helped provide more health resources to the area. This clinic has since been sold to a private owner.
The Mintabie Area School teaches students from Reception to Year 12. It has about 20 students. By 2009, only 11 students were enrolled.
Mintabie does not have police living there all the time. However, police from Marla patrol the town regularly.
To visit Mintabie, you usually need a permit from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara. This is because the land is owned by the Aboriginal people who live there. Currently, this rule is not always enforced due to some ongoing issues.
For State elections, a special mobile voting booth comes to Mintabie. This allows people to vote for the Parliament of South Australia.
