Peterborough, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peterborough South Australia
Main street of Peterborough
Peterborough Location in South Australia
Established	1869
Postcode(s)	5422
Elevation	420 m (1,378 ft)
Location	220 km (137 mi) N of Adelaide 113 km (70 mi) SE of Port Augusta
LGA(s)	District Council of Peterborough
State electorate(s)	Stuart
Federal Division(s)	Division of Grey
Website	Peterborough
Localities around Peterborough: Minvalara Minvalara Ucolta Sunnybrae Peterborough Ucolta Sunnybrae Sunnybrae Ucolta

Peterborough is a town in the mid-north of South Australia. It is located in an area known for growing wheat. The town was first called Petersburg. It was named after Peter Doecke, who owned the land. In 1917, during World War I, its name was changed. This happened because of strong feelings against Germany at the time. Peterborough is just off the Barrier Highway.

A Look Back in Time: Peterborough's History

The first people to settle here bought land from the government in 1875. The very first building in Peterborough was built four years later. Peter Doecke, the original landowner, sold his land in 1876. In 1880, it was decided that this land would become an important railway junction.

The land was then divided into smaller blocks and sold. By 1880, a hotel and a post office were built. A school opened in 1883, and a town hall followed in 1884. The town grew quickly because of the railway.

Important Old Buildings: Heritage Listings

Peterborough has many buildings and places that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites. They include:

• 14 Bourke Street: Koch House
• 2 Callary Street: Bishop's Palace and Convent, Peterborough
• 2 Jervois Street: Peterborough Police Station, Cells and Courthouse
• 77-79 Kitchener Street: Peterborough Power Station
• Main Street: Peterborough Rotunda
• 105-107 Main Street: General Store, Peterborough
• 106 Main Street Peterborough YMCA Hostel
• 108 Main Street: Peterborough Town Hall
• 193-195 Main Street: Peterborough Hotel
• 227-231 Main Street: Capitol Theatre, Peterborough
• Railway Terrace: Peterborough Roundhouse and Turntable
• Tripney Avenue: Peterborough Gold Battery and Office

Trains and Tracks: Peterborough's Railways

A "Y" Class number 82 Locomotive situated alongside the rotunda in the main street of Peterborough

Peterborough was once a very important railway hub. It sat where two major railway lines crossed. One line went from east to west, connecting Port Pirie and Broken Hill. The other went north to south, linking Adelaide to Alice Springs.

These lines were originally narrow gauge (1067mm wide). This means the tracks were closer together than standard tracks. The line from Port Pirie arrived in 1881. Soon after, lines from Terowie (south) and Quorn (north) were built. The line to Broken Hill was finished in 1887.

Peterborough was also the home of Bob the Railway Dog. He was a famous dog who travelled on trains. A bronze statue of him is in the main street.

Different Track Sizes: Triple-Gauge Junction

In 1970, the east-west railway line was changed to standard gauge (1435mm wide). The line south to Terowie was changed to broad gauge (1600mm wide). This made Peterborough one of only three places in Australia with three different track sizes. This is called a triple-gauge railway junction.

The broad-gauge line to Adelaide closed in 1988. The narrow-gauge line north to Quorn stopped carrying freight in 1980. Today, the old railway roundhouse is used to show off old trains. The Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre now offers a special Sound & Light Show.

Looking to the Stars: Nova Systems Space Precinct

In early 2022, a new space facility opened near Peterborough. It is called the Nova Systems Space Precinct. This site is used for ground stations. These stations communicate with satellites orbiting Earth.

The site started with one ground station. Now it hosts several, working with companies from the US and Italy. There are plans to add many more satellite dishes in the future. This makes Peterborough a small but important part of space communication!

News and Radio: Media in Peterborough

Peterborough has a history of local newspapers. The Petersburg Times started in 1887. Its name changed in 1919 to The Times and Northern Advertiser. This was part of the effort to remove German-sounding names after World War I.

Other newspapers were published for short times, like the Petersburg Enterprise in 1912. More recently, the Peterborough Times was published from 2003 to 2006. It later became part of the Mid North Broadcaster.

In 2022, a new community radio station, 5PBS, started broadcasting. You can listen to it on 91.1 MHz. It serves Peterborough and nearby towns like Oodla Wirra and Terowie.

Learning in Town: Education

Peterborough has schools for students of all ages.

• Peterborough High School opened in 1927. It teaches students from years 7 to 12.
• Peterborough Primary School opened in 1883. It teaches students from reception (kindergarten) to year 6.
• St Joseph's School is a Catholic primary school. It teaches students from reception to year 7. This school was started by Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph.

Gallery

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  Winter Sunrise in Peterborough