Pooraka, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pooraka Adelaide, South Australia
Street in Pooraka
Pooraka Location in South Australia
Postcode(s)	5095
Location	12 km (7 mi) N of Adelaide city centre
LGA(s)	City of Salisbury
State electorate(s)	Florey
Federal Division(s)	Makin
Suburbs around Pooraka: Mawson Lakes Parafield Para Hills West, Para Hills Cavan Pooraka Ingle Farm Gepps Cross Northfield Walkley Heights

Pooraka is a suburb located in Adelaide, South Australia. It's about 12 kilometers north of the main city center. Pooraka is a place where many people live and it's part of the wider Adelaide area.

Discovering Pooraka's Past

The First People: Kaurna Country

Long before European settlers arrived, the Kaurna people lived in this area. They are the traditional owners of the land around Adelaide. The Kaurna people have lived on this land for thousands of years.

How Pooraka Got Its Name

Pooraka was first known as Dry Creek. This name came from a local watercourse, which is a small stream or river. Today, the name Dry Creek refers to a different industrial area nearby.

In 1916, the local council decided to rename the suburb Pooraka. People at the time thought "Pooraka" was a Kaurna language word meaning "dry." However, experts who study the Kaurna language say this isn't true. The word "Pooraka" actually seems to be an Indigenous name from New South Wales. It means "turpentine tree," which is a type of tree that doesn't even grow in South Australia!

Old Buildings and Transport

Pooraka once had its own post office called Pooraka East Post Office. It opened in 1965 but closed down in 1986. There was also a railway station in Pooraka. It started operating in 1913 and was first called Abattoirs. Later, its name was changed to Pooraka railway station. This train station closed on May 29, 1987.