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Port Gawler, South Australia facts for kids

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Port Gawler
South Australia
Port Gawler is located in South Australia
Port Gawler
Port Gawler
Location in South Australia
Established By 1869 (town)
June 1997 (locality)
Abolished 23 June 1960 (town)
Postcode(s) 5501
Time zone ACST (UTC+9:30)
 • Summer (DST) ACST (UTC+10:30)
Location
LGA(s) Adelaide Plains Council
Region Barossa Light and Lower North
County Gawler
State electorate(s) Taylor
Federal Division(s) Grey
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
22.7 °C
73 °F
11.2 °C
52 °F
431.0 mm
17 in
Localities around Port Gawler:
Gulf St Vincent Middle Beach Two Wells
Gulf St Vincent Port Gawler Two Wells
Gulf St Vincent Buckland Park Riverlea Park
Footnotes Adjoining localities

Port Gawler is a place in South Australia that used to be a busy port. It's located on the Gulf St Vincent, which is part of the ocean, on the central Adelaide Plains. This area is about 43 kilometres (27 mi) north-west of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia.

Port Gawler is found where the Gawler River meets the sea. Today, it's known as a "locality," which is a type of small area or district. It's managed by the Adelaide Plains Council.

Discovering Port Gawler

Port Gawler was officially named in 1867. A town was planned and surveyed around 1869. This means people drew up maps and decided where streets and buildings would go. It was meant to be an important port for the region.

Why Was It a Port?

In the past, before good roads and railways, rivers and ports were vital for moving goods. Port Gawler was set up to help farmers and businesses in the nearby Gawler area. They could send their products, like grain, down the Gawler River and then onto ships at Port Gawler. These ships would then take the goods to other places, including Adelaide.

The Port's Decline

Over time, new ways of transport became popular. Railways and better roads made it easier and faster to move goods directly to Adelaide. This meant that smaller ports like Port Gawler were no longer as important. Because of these changes, the official town of Port Gawler was declared to have stopped existing on June 23, 1960.

Port Gawler Today

Even though the town no longer exists, the name "Port Gawler" is still used for the area. In June 1997, new boundaries were set for what is now called the "locality" of Port Gawler. This new area includes both the old town site and a private area called Milner. Today, Port Gawler is a quieter place, often visited for its natural beauty and connection to the sea.

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