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Olary, South Australia facts for kids

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Olary
South Australia
Olary Hotel, 2017 (01).jpg
Olary Hotel
Olary is located in South Australia
Olary
Olary
Location in South Australia
Established 1 December 1887 (town)
23 October 2003 (locality)
Postcode(s) 5440
Elevation 285 m (935 ft)
Time zone ACST (UTC+9:30)
 • Summer (DST) ACST (UTC+10:30)
Location
  • 335 km (208 mi) NNE of Adelaide
  • 110 km (68 mi) SW of Broken Hill
LGA(s) Pastoral Unincorporated Area
Region Far North
State electorate(s) Stuart
Federal Division(s) Grey
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
24.7 °C
76 °F
9.5 °C
49 °F
202.5 mm
8 in
Localities around Olary:
Outalpa Abminga Station Abminga Station
Outalpa Olary Abminga Station
Wiawera
Wiawera Wiawera Wiawera
Footnotes Adjoining localities

Olary is a small town in South Australia. It is located on the Barrier Highway, a main road. You can find Olary near Olary Creek. It is one of the towns furthest to the east in South Australia. The name "Olary" came from a nearby waterhole. Early settlers like Duffield, Harrold, and Hurd gave it this name.

History of Olary

Olary started as a small settlement in the late 1880s. It was built to help people traveling on the highway and the railway line. These routes pass right through the area.

Post Office and Population Changes

The town's post office first opened on October 12, 1886. Its name changed a couple of times. It was first "O'Lary", then "Oolarie", before finally becoming "Olary" around 1896. As cars and trucks became more common, fewer people needed to stop in Olary. This caused the town's population to get smaller.

What Olary Offers Today

Even though the population is smaller, Olary still has a hotel. It also has a general store. These places help people who work on the road or railway. They also serve travelers passing through the area.

Historic Buildings Near Olary

Near Olary, there is a historic building called the Bimbowrie Cobb and Co coach house. In 2010, people worked to restore this old building. They learned how to fix stone walls using traditional methods. This project helped keep history alive.

Another important historical place nearby is the Mount Victoria Well & Whim Historic Site. This site is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. This means it is a protected place because of its history.

How Olary is Governed

Olary is part of a larger area in South Australia. This area is called the Pastoral Unincorporated Area. It means that a special government agency helps manage services for the community. This agency is called the Outback Communities Authority.

Olary is also part of bigger government areas. For federal elections, it is in the division of Grey. For state elections, it is in the electoral district of Stuart.

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