Mount Torrens, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount TorrensSouth Australia |
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Main street of Mount Torrens
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 Mount Torrens
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 1840s | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5244 | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 46 km (29 mi) from Adelaide | ||||||||||||||
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| State electorate(s) | Morialta | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Mayo | ||||||||||||||
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Mount Torrens is a small town in the beautiful Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. It's about 46 kilometers (29 miles) east of Adelaide, the state capital. You can find it about 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Lobethal. The town sits on Onkaparinga Valley Road.
It's also the starting point of the Amy Gillett Bikeway, a popular path for bikes that follows an old railway line. Mount Torrens is managed by two local councils: the Adelaide Hills Council and the Mid Murray Council.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of Mount Torrens
The original name for this area by Indigenous people is not known today. The first Europeans to explore the mount were Dr. George Imlay and John Hill. They climbed it on January 25, 1838, but they didn't give it a name.
Later, the mount and the town were named after Robert Torrens. He was an important person in the early days of South Australia. He helped set up the South Australian Colonisation Commission.
A Glimpse into Mount Torrens' Past
The town of Mount Torrens began in the early 1840s. The Dunn family helped develop it. Back then, it was known as Barton Springs. It had a farmhouse, a place for blacksmiths, stables, and an inn called the Cornish Arms.
In 1853, the town was properly planned out. It was meant to help with trade along the River Murray at Mannum. There was also a copper mine nearby. A small amount of gold was found in 1870. However, by the time of World War I, the town became less important. The town you see today looks much like it did back then.
What You Can Find in Mount Torrens Today
Mount Torrens has several useful places for its community. There's a sporting ground where people can play games. You'll also find a hotel, a farm supply store, and a general store for everyday needs.
The town has two schools: the state-run Mount Torrens Primary School and the Mount Torrens Christian School. There are also three churches: Anglican, Lutheran, and Uniting churches. In 2019, Mount Torrens became part of the Adelaide Hills Sculpture Trail. A small park, which used to be a fire station, now holds a special sculpture. Many old buildings in the town have a lot of history.
Sadly, Mount Torrens and the areas around it were affected by the big Cudlee Creek bushfire in 2019.
Getting Around: Transport in Mount Torrens
Mount Torrens is on a bus route run by LinkSA. This bus goes from Mount Pleasant to Tea Tree Plaza.
From 1918 to 1963, the town had a train station. It was part of the Mount Pleasant railway line. However, the train tracks were removed after 1963.
