Poonindie, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids PoonindieSouth Australia |
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 Poonindie
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 1850 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5607 | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACST (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Eyre Western | ||||||||||||||
| County | Flinders | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Flinders | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
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| Footnotes | Location Climate Adjoining localities |
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Poonindie is a small town located near Port Lincoln in South Australia. It is found on the Eyre Peninsula, a large peninsula on the coast.
This area is important because it is the historic land of the Nauo People. Today, it is also within the recognised territory of the Barngarla People, both of whom are Australian Indigenous communities.
The Poonindie Mission
The Poonindie Mission was a special place set up for Aboriginal Australians in 1850. It was started by Mathew Hale, who was a church leader. He also managed the mission for many years.
The main goal of the mission was to provide training and education for Aboriginal people. Mathew Hale called it the "Aboriginal Training Institution."
St Matthew's Church
A church called St Matthew's was built at the mission in 1854-1855. It was first meant to be a school. However, it ended up serving as a church for both the mission residents and the people living nearby.
This historic church is still standing and is used today. It is an important reminder of the mission's past.
The Mission Closes
After 44 years, the Poonindie Mission closed down in 1894. When it closed, the land was divided up and sold. Only St Matthew's Church and a small piece of land around it stayed with the Anglican Church.
About 300 acres (120 hectares) of land became an Aboriginal reserve. Most of the people living at the mission were moved to other missions, like Point Pearce and Point McLeay. Some moved to the nearby Aboriginal reserve. A few people stayed at the original mission site until the early 1900s.
Remembering the Past
The Poonindie Mission is mentioned in a very important report called Bringing Them Home. This report talks about a sad time in Australian history known as the Stolen Generations.
During this time, many Indigenous children were sadly taken away from their families. This caused a lot of pain and loss for these children and their families. The Poonindie Mission was one of the places where some of these children were housed.
Akenta Community
Today, the land that was once the Aboriginal reserve is now a self-managed Aboriginal community. It is called Akenta and is run by a group called Akenta Incorporated. This means the community manages its own affairs.
Other Local Sites
North of the main town of Poonindie, you can find the Pooonindie Uniting Church.
Heritage Sites
Poonindie has several important historical sites linked to the former mission. These places are listed on the South Australian Heritage Register because they are very significant. They include:
- Poonindie Mission Bakehouse Complex and Well
- Poonindie Mission Superintendent's Residence (where the manager lived)
- Poonindie Cemetery (a burial ground)
- Poonindie Mission Schoolhouse (the old school building)
- St Matthew's Anglican Church (the church mentioned earlier)
