Port MacDonnell, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port MacDonnellSouth Australia |
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View west to Port Macdonnell from Racecourse Bay, 2013
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 Port MacDonnell
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 1860 (town) 31 October 1996 (locality) |
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| Postcode(s) | 5291 | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | District Council of Grant | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Limestone Coast | ||||||||||||||
| County | Grey | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Mount Gambier | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Barker | ||||||||||||||
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| Footnotes | Locations Climate Adjoining localities |
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Port MacDonnell, originally called Ngaranga, is the town furthest south in South Australia. This small port town is part of the Limestone Coast region. It is about 477 kilometres (296 miles) south-east of Adelaide. It is also 28 kilometres (17 miles) south of Mount Gambier. The town is located within the District Council of Grant local government area.
Port MacDonnell was once a very busy shipping port. Today, the town mainly relies on its fishing and summer tourism. The rock lobster industry is especially important. The town even calls itself "Australia's Southern Rock Lobster Capital"!
Contents
History of Port MacDonnell
Early History and Naming
The first people to live in this area were the Bungandidj Aboriginal people. They called the place Ngaranga. This name might mean "noisy" or "caves". Their old stories say that dry land used to stretch further south from the coast. This land was later covered by rising sea levels.
The first Europeans to see this area arrived on December 3, 1800. They were led by explorer Lieutenant James Grant on his ship, the HMS Lady Nelson. In 1860, the area was officially made a port and given its name. It was named after Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell. He was the Governor of South Australia from 1855 to 1862.
A Busy Port and Its Challenges
In the 1880s, Port MacDonnell was one of Australia's busiest ports. Many ships carried large amounts of wheat and wool from here to Europe. However, the port was open to rough weather. Because of this, many ships were wrecked there. A more sheltered port was found across the border in Portland, Victoria, about 85 kilometres (53 miles) to the southeast.
Important Heritage Places
Several places in Port MacDonnell are listed as state heritage sites. These are important historical locations. They include the Cape Northumberland Lighthouse, the Dingley Dell Museum, and the Former Port MacDonnell customs house. These sites help us remember the town's past.
Geography and Wildlife
Port MacDonnell is built on flat, swampy land. It sits in a bay between rocky capes. These capes have amazing rock formations shaped by ocean waves. The most impressive ones are west of the town, near Cape Northumberland.
The town's harbour is protected by a large, man-made rock wall. The coastline has sandy beaches and rocky areas. These rocks offer shelter from rough seas. They also provide a home for the southern rock lobster. Fishing for these lobsters is the town's main industry. You can also find colonies of little penguins living among the rocks.
The Cape Northumberland Lighthouse
Cape Northumberland has a tall lighthouse that was built in 1882. Before this, an older lighthouse stood there from 1858. That first lighthouse was the very first one in South Australia. However, it had to be taken down because it was in danger of falling apart. Today, a monument marks the spot where the original lighthouse once stood.
How Port MacDonnell is Governed
Port MacDonnell is part of different government areas. For national elections, it is in the federal division of Barker. For state elections, it is in the electoral district of Mount Gambier. For local matters, it is part of the District Council of Grant. These different levels of government help manage the town and its surrounding areas.
