Mount Lofty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Lofty |
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North view of the Summit and Flinders Column from the Fire Tower
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 710 m (2,330 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Lofty
Location in South Australia
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| Parent range | Mount Lofty Ranges |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | April 1831 Collet Barker (but likely ascended by Indigenous peoples before European contact) |
Mount Lofty is the highest point in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia. It stands about 710 meters (2,329 feet) tall. You can find it about 15 kilometers (9 miles) east of the Adelaide city centre, inside the Cleland National Park.
From the top of Mount Lofty, you can see amazing views! To the west, you'll see the city of Adelaide and its flat plains. To the east, you can look down into the beautiful Piccadilly Valley. It's a popular spot for people visiting from other countries, and also for cyclists who ride up the old Mount Barker Road. Many walkers also enjoy the climb from Waterfall Gully.
Contents
The Story of Mount Lofty
Mount Lofty's First People: The Kaurna Story
The peaks of Mount Lofty and nearby Mount Bonython are very important landmarks. The local Kaurna people, who are the traditional owners of this land, call them Yuridla. This name means 'two-ears'. It's part of the story of an ancient being named Nganu. The name of the nearby town, Uraidla, comes from this Kaurna word.
European Explorers and the Flinders Column
Mount Lofty got its English name from Matthew Flinders. He named it on March 23, 1802, while sailing around the Australian continent. The first European person to climb the mountain was an explorer named Collet Barker. He reached the top in April 1831, which was almost six years before the city of Adelaide was even started.
At first, a pile of stones marked the highest point. Later, in 1885, a tall, thin monument called an obelisk was built there. This obelisk helped surveyors map out the area around Adelaide. In 1902, the obelisk was given a new name: the "Flinders Column," in honor of Matthew Flinders.
During the Second World War, people were not allowed to visit the summit. The obelisk was used as an important guide for ships and planes. A flashing light was even added to the top to make it easier to see at night. After the war, the light was removed, but it was put back in the 1990s when the obelisk was cleaned up and a new cafe was built.
Visiting Mount Lofty's Summit
You can reach the summit by car from the South Eastern Freeway at Crafers. You can also drive from Adelaide's eastern suburbs using Greenhill Road. For those who love to walk, there's a popular path from Waterfall Gully. This walk goes through the Cleland National Park and is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) uphill. It's a favorite exercise spot for many people in Adelaide!
At the summit, you'll find amazing views of Adelaide. There's also a cafe where you can get food and drinks, and a gift shop. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you might even see kangaroos on the walking trails!
Close to the summit, there are three tall towers that send out television signals. One of them belongs to the ABC. There's also the Mount Lofty Fire Tower, which is used by the Country Fire Service to spot bushfires.
Old Houses on the Mountain
Historically, Summit Road on Mount Lofty was a very famous address. Many wealthy families built their summer houses there. Sadly, most of these beautiful homes were badly damaged or destroyed by the Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983. However, many have been rebuilt and restored since then.
Some of these historic houses include:
- Mt Lofty House (built in 1858)
- Eurilla (built in 1884)
- Carminow (built in 1885)
Other buildings, like St Michael's House (a college) and "Arthur's Seat" (a girls' school), were never rebuilt after the fires.
It's interesting to know that in the past, "Mount Lofty" addresses sometimes referred to areas now known as Crafers and parts of Stirling.
Mount Lofty's Weather
When Snow Falls on Mount Lofty
Mount Lofty is the coldest place in the Adelaide area. In winter, the temperature can sometimes stay as low as 3-4°C (37-39°F) all day.
Adelaide's main city area usually has mild winters, and it almost never gets cold enough for snow. The closest places with regular snow are over 700 kilometers (435 miles) away in Victoria. However, Mount Lofty's summit is the most common place to see snow in South Australia! Sometimes, light snow also falls in other parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges. Snowfall is usually light and doesn't last more than a day. It doesn't even happen every year. But sleet (rain mixed with ice) happens more often.
When it snows on Mount Lofty, it's a big deal for the people living in Adelaide, especially for kids! Photos of the snow often make the front page of the local newspaper.
Rain and General Weather
Mount Lofty has a cool Mediterranean climate. This means it has very dry summers and a lot of rain in winter. Because it's so high up, Mount Lofty gets almost twice as much rain each year as the city of Adelaide. During winter, it gets more than double the amount of rain compared to the city. It also tends to be very cloudy during the winter months.
Gallery
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Snow at Eurilla in 1905
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A view looking southeast across the Piccadilly Valley from the Mount Lofty Scenic Route. You can see the top of Mount Barker far away on the horizon.
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The dedication plaque on the Flinders Column, from 1902.
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A beautiful view of the Adelaide Plains at night from the summit.
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A stunning view of the eastern suburbs, the Adelaide city centre, and the Gulf St Vincent at sunset from the summit.
See also
In Spanish: Monte Lofty para niños
