Tarpeena, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tarpeena South Australia
Tarpeena Location in South Australia
Established	1860 (town) 25 February 1999 (locality)
Postcode(s)	5277
Elevation	112 m (367 ft)
LGA(s)	District Council of Grant
Region	Limestone Coast
County	Grey
State electorate(s)	Mount Gambier
Federal Division(s)	Barker
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 19.0 °C 66 °F 8.2 °C 47 °F 712.4 mm 28 in
Localities around Tarpeena: Wepar Wepar Nangwarry Nangwarry Wepar Tarpeena Pleasant Park Mingbool Dismal Swamp Dismal Swamp Mingbool Mingbool
Footnotes	Adjoining localities

Tarpeena is a small town and a specific area, also called a locality, in South Australia. It is located on the Riddoch Highway, which is a main road between the towns of Penola and Mount Gambier. Tarpeena is part of the beautiful Limestone Coast region.

The town was named by Governor MacDonnell. He used words from the local Aboriginal language, tart pena, which mean 'Brenton Chuck'. The town was first planned out in October 1860. Later, on February 25, 1999, the official boundaries for the area were set.

What Happens in Tarpeena?

Tarpeena's Main Jobs

Long ago, around the 1840s, people called pastoralists came to this area. They set up large farms, known as sheep stations, to raise sheep for their wool.

Today, Tarpeena has changed a lot. Because of better roads and transportation, many people who live in Tarpeena travel to work in the bigger city of Mount Gambier. This means Tarpeena acts like a "dormitory suburb" where people sleep but work elsewhere.

However, Tarpeena still has an important timber mill. This mill is a big part of the town's economy. It helps keep the local post office busy and supports the community, as it employs over 700 people.

How Tarpeena is Governed

Who Looks After Tarpeena?

Tarpeena is part of a few different government areas. These groups help manage the town and its services.

For national decisions, Tarpeena is in the federal division of Barker. For state-level decisions, it's in the electoral district of Mount Gambier. Lastly, for local community matters, Tarpeena is managed by the District Council of Grant.

Education in Tarpeena

Tarpeena's School History

For over a century, Tarpeena had its own primary school. It was a place where local children learned and grew. However, in 2011, the school had to close. This happened because not enough students were enrolling anymore.