Quorn, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Quorn South Australia
The Transcontinental Hotel
Quorn Location in South Australia
Established	16 May 1878 (town) 25 November 1999 (locality)
Postcode(s)	5433
Elevation	293 m (961 ft)(Railway Station)
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
• Summer (DST)	ACST (UTC+10:30)
LGA(s)	Flinders Ranges Council
Region	Far North
County	Frome Newcastle
State electorate(s)	Stuart
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 24.7 °C 76 °F 13.6 °C 56 °F 257.0 mm 10.1 in
Localities around Quorn: Yarrah Willochra Quorn Stephenston Saltia Wilmington Bruce
Footnotes	Adjoining localities

Quorn is a small town in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia. It is about 39 kilometers (24 miles) northeast of Port Augusta.

Quorn is where the Flinders Ranges Council has its main office. This council helps manage the local area. The town is also part of the Electoral district of Stuart for state government and the Division of Grey for federal government.

The town is known for its beautiful scenery and old buildings. Many people visit Quorn for tourism. It is also a popular spot for filming movies. The famous Pichi Richi Railway ends here.

A Look Back in Time

Quorn railway station

Quorn was first planned in 1878 by Godfrey Walsh. This was done to prepare for building a railway line. The railway would go north from Port Augusta. Mr J.H.B. Warner named the town. His family came from a village called Quorn in England.

The railway line from Port Augusta reached Quorn in 1879. It was then extended further north over the years. This railway eventually reached Alice Springs in 1929. It became known as the Great Northern Railway. Later, it was called the Central Australia Railway.

In 1917, Quorn became a very important place. This was because the Trans-Australian Railway was finished. It connected Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie. This meant Quorn was a crossroads for all travel in Australia. If you traveled north-south or east-west, you would pass through Quorn. Because of this, many grand buildings were built as the town grew.

Quorn's role as a major railway hub changed in 1937. A new railway line was built that bypassed Quorn. This new line connected Port Pirie Junction directly to Port Augusta.

However, during World War II, Quorn became important again. It was a vital stop for trains heading north to Alice Springs. Over 1,000,000 soldiers passed through Quorn. They were on their way to Darwin and Papua New Guinea. At its busiest, more than 50 trains passed through Quorn each day.

In the 1950s, a new railway line was built. This line also bypassed Quorn. This meant the last major train traffic through Quorn stopped. By the 1980s, the railway through Quorn was completely closed. All freight was moved by road instead.

In 1973, some railway fans wanted to save the old railway. They wanted to protect the unique bridges and stone work. These were built in the Pichi Richi Pass. This group formed the Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society. They now run a special tourist train. It travels through the Pichi Richi Pass from Quorn to Port Augusta.

Fun Things to Do in Quorn

The Old Mill

One of the main attractions in Quorn is the Flinders Gin Distillery. The Pichi Richi Railway is also a big draw. You can take self-guided walking tours around the town. These tours show you historic buildings and the old railway yards. There are several hotels, takeaways, and cafes in town.

In 2020, the Flinders Ranges Council put up signs outside historic buildings. These signs give information for tourists. The Flinders Ranges Visitor Information Centre is at the Quorn railway station. It has a museum and offers tours. You can also book train rides and find out about places to stay. They have maps for walking tours and souvenirs.

The Heysen Trail and the Mawson Trail pass through Quorn. The Heysen Trail is for walking, and the Mawson Trail is for cycling. There are also many bushwalks and four-wheel drive tracks nearby.

Quorn is a popular stop for travelers exploring the Flinders Ranges. The tourist office at the Quorn Railway Station provides free information. They have maps and trails to help you see the best sites. These include Warren Gorge, Kanyaka Station, and Itali Itali.

At night, you can watch a free film at the grain silos. These silos are in the Quorn railway yards. The film shows the history of Quorn and the surrounding area. It is an open-air event every evening after dark.

Quorn on the Big Screen

Quorn has been a filming location for many popular movies. Some of these include The Shiralee, Sunday Too Far Away, and Gallipoli. Other films shot here are Wolf Creek, The Sundowners, and The Lighthorsemen. In 2014, Russell Crowe directed The Water Diviner. He used the Pichi Richi Railway for the train scenes in his movie.

Famous People from Quorn

• Jedd Hughes, a country music artist
• Brian Harradine, a politician
• Anne Haddy, an actress
• Fos Williams, a famous Australian Rules footballer
• Lowitja O'Donoghue, a former Australian of the Year

Historic Buildings

Quorn has many buildings listed for their historical importance. Some of these include:

• Mt Arden Station on Arden Vale Road
• The old Savings Bank of South Australia, Quorn building at 37 First Street
• Foster's Store at 45-47 First Street
• The Woolshed Flat Railway Bridge on the Quorn-Port Augusta Road
• The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, Quorn on Railway Terrace
• The Quorn railway station on Railway Terrace
• Dunn's Flour Mill at 2 Railway Terrace
• The Bank of Adelaide, Quorn at 6 Railway Terrace
• The National Bank, Quorn at 11 Railway Terrace
• The Transcontinental Hotel, Quorn at 14-15 Railway Terrace
• The Austral Hotel, Quorn at 16 Railway Terrace
• The Criterion Hotel, Quorn at 18 Railway Terrace
• The Quorn Courthouse at 19 Railway Terrace
• The Quorn Town Hall at 20 Railway Terrace
• The Grand Junction Hotel at 25 Railway Terrace
• St Matthew's Anglican Church, Quorn at 15 Seventh Street

Images for kids

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  Quorn Town Hall

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  Methodist Church (now Uniting Church), Quorn

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  Built in the 1890s as a saddlery, it then became the Savings Bank of SA

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  The Coffee Pot

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  Quorn Railway Station