Waukaringa, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WaukaringaSouth Australia |
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Waukaringa
Location in South Australia
|
|||||||||||||||
| Established | 1 November 1888 (town) 29 May 1997 (locality) |
||||||||||||||
| Abolished | 8 July 1982 (town) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5440 | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACDT (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
|
||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Pastoral Unincorporated Area | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Far North | ||||||||||||||
| County | Lytton | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Stuart | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
| Footnotes | Adjoining localities | ||||||||||||||
Waukaringa is a place in South Australia, Australia. It is located about 303 kilometers (188 miles) north-east of Adelaide, the state capital. It is also about 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of a town called Yunta. This area is part of the state's Far North region.
Contents
History of Waukaringa
Waukaringa began as a town on November 1, 1888. It was officially declared to no longer exist as a town on July 8, 1982. Later, on May 29, 1997, new boundaries were set for Waukaringa as a "locality." A locality is a type of area, similar to a suburb or district. The Waukaringa locality is completely surrounded by another area called Melton Station.
Gold Discovery and Growth
The first people settled in this area in 1873. This happened after gold was found nearby. By 1890, Waukaringa was a busy place. It was estimated to have about 750 people living there.
Waukaringa Becomes a Ghost Town
The town of Waukaringa was abandoned in the 1950s. This means most people moved away. Today, it is known as a ghost town. Only the ruins of a few buildings remain. The most notable ruin is the old Waukaringa Hotel.
Gold Mining in the Area
The goldfields near Waukaringa were very productive. Between 1873 and 1969, they produced about 1,427 kilograms (3,146 pounds) of gold. Some of the main gold mines were:
- Alma and Victoria
- Alma Extended
- West Waukaringa
- Balaclava
A stone chimney from the Alma and Victoria mine can still be seen today. The remains of the Alma and Victoria Mine Site and Structures are important. They are listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. This means they are protected because of their historical value.
Waukaringa in Culture
Waukaringa was the setting for a book called The Silent Sea. This book was written by Catherine Edith Macauley Martin. She used the pen name Mrs. Alick Macleod. The story was based on mining and life in Waukaringa. Catherine Martin even lived in the town while she was writing part of the book.
Famous People from Waukaringa
Harold Oliver, a well-known Australian Rules footballer, was born in Waukaringa. He was born there in 1891.
Government and Location
Waukaringa is part of several government areas. It is located within the federal division of Grey. For state government, it is in the electoral district of Stuart. It is also part of the Pastoral Unincorporated Area of South Australia. This means it is an area that does not have its own local government council.
