Port Elliot, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Port Elliot South Australia
Horseshoe Bay taken from Freemans Nob, facing towards Commodore Point
Port Elliot Location in South Australia
Population	2,102 (2016 census)
Established	By 1852 (town) 9 September 1993 (locality)
Postcode(s)	5212
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
• Summer (DST)	ACST (UTC+10:30)
Location	84 km (52 mi) from Adelaide
LGA(s)	Alexandrina Council
Region	Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island
County	Hindmarsh
State electorate(s)	Finniss
Federal Division(s)	Mayo
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 20.6 °C 69 °F 10.3 °C 51 °F 551.7 mm 21.7 in
Localities around Port Elliot: Hindmarsh Valley Mount Jagged Middleton Hindmarsh Valley Chiton Port Elliot Middleton Encounter Bay Encounter Bay Encounter Bay Encounter Bay
Footnotes	Adjoining localities

Port Elliot is a lovely town in South Australia. It sits on the eastern side of the Fleurieu Peninsula's south coast. The town is built around a safe, curved bay called Horseshoe Bay. This smaller bay is part of the much bigger Encounter Bay. Just outside Horseshoe Bay, you can see Pullen Island.

A small bay called Lady Bay is found at the south-western end of Horseshoe Bay, just past the jetty.

History of Port Elliot

How Port Elliot Became a Port

Horseshoe Bay was officially made a port in 1851. The town above the bay was named Port Elliot in 1852. It was named after Charles Elliot, who was a friend of the Governor of South Australia, Sir Henry Young. Before this, the area was known as Freeman's Knob. The local Aboriginal name for the area might have been "Witengangool".

In the late 1830s, Freeman's Knob was used as a lookout spot. People watched for whales for the whaling stations in Encounter Bay. In 1842, boats were launched from here for a whaling station at Rosetta Head.

The First Public Railway

The port was created to offer a safe place for boats trading along the Murray River. The river trade ended at Goolwa. This was because the Murray Mouth was too dangerous for ships to pass through. Goods and people traveled between Goolwa and Port Elliot on Australia's first public railway. This railway was finished in 1854.

Changes in Transport and Trade

In 1864, several ships were lost in Horseshoe Bay. Because of this, the railway was made longer, reaching Victor Harbor. Victor Harbor offered a safer place for ships. This meant Port Elliot was no longer needed as a main port. The bay and jetty were then mostly used by fishermen and people enjoying the beach.

The importance of the railway link between the river and the sea also changed. A new railway was built between Adelaide and Morgan. This allowed river boats to unload their goods and passengers much further upstream. They could then send them directly to Adelaide by train.

Port Elliot Becomes a Holiday Spot

After these changes, the towns along the southern Fleurieu coast became popular holiday spots. These towns included Victor Harbor, Port Elliot, Middleton, and Goolwa. They did not have much more industrial growth. Instead, they became home to many guest houses, camping parks, and holiday homes. Older areas nearby, like Waterport and Findon, are now considered part of Port Elliot.

Port Elliot Today

Today, Port Elliot is a peaceful town. It has hotels, churches, and coffee shops. It does not have any big fast-food chains. It is a popular place for holidays. It is also close enough to Adelaide for day trips.

Many people who are retiring are moving to Port Elliot. This is because the Greater Adelaide area is growing. Also, the roads connecting the Fleurieu Peninsula to Adelaide are getting better. This has made house and land prices go up. It can be harder for young people and families from the area to stay. Most jobs in the area are in hospitality, aged care, or building.

Little Penguin Colony

Little penguins used to live and breed at Freeman's Knob. In 1981, a dog attack sadly killed at least 10 adult penguins. Many eggs were also broken. This event might have caused the entire penguin colony to disappear from that spot.