Oakbank, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids OakbankSouth Australia |
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Oakbank Racecourse
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 Oakbank
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 1840 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5243 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 338 m (1,109 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Adelaide Hills Council | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Kavel | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Mayo | ||||||||||||||
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Oakbank is a small town in the beautiful Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. It's located east of the city of Adelaide. This town is part of the Adelaide Hills Council area. In 2006, about 473 people lived in Oakbank.
Contents
Discovering Oakbank's Past
The town of Oakbank was started around 1840. Two brothers from Scotland, James and Andrew Johnston, founded it. They arrived in South Australia in 1839 on a ship called the Buckinghamshire. By the next year, they were exploring the Onkaparinga Valley where Oakbank is now.
The Johnston family came from a place called Oakbank in Scotland. This is why they decided to name their new town Oakbank. There is a large oak tree still standing in the main street today. People say it grew from an acorn that one of the brothers brought from Scotland.
Oakbank's Famous Breweries
In 1845, James and Andrew Johnston started the J. & A.G. Johnston brewery. They used water from an underground spring connected to the Onkaparinga River. Later, in 1889, another person named Henry Pike built a second brewery. He called it the Dorset Brewery.
Both breweries had to close in 1938. This was because of a problem with the yeast they used. So, they changed their business to making soft drinks and cordials instead. Johnston's Cordial is still a popular drink brand today. It is one of South Australia's oldest family-owned businesses. The old Dorset brewery building now makes hand-woven textiles.
The Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival
Oakbank is very famous for its Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival. This exciting event happens over two days during the Easter weekend. Thousands of visitors come to watch the main race, which is called the Great Eastern Steeplechase. Oakbank is also located on the Onkaparinga Valley Road, which is a main route (B34).
Oakbank's Railway History
Oakbank used to have its own railway station. It was part of the Mount Pleasant railway line. Trains served Oakbank from 1918 until 1963.
