Williamstown, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WilliamstownSouth Australia |
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Queen Street, the main street of Williamstown
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 Williamstown
Location in South Australia
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| Population | 2,755 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1857 (private sub-division) 15 March 2003 (locality) |
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| Postcode(s) | 5351 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 310 m (1,017 ft) | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Barossa Council | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Schubert | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Barker | ||||||||||||||
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| Footnotes | Locations Adjoining localities |
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Williamstown is a small town in South Australia. It sits on the edge of the famous Barossa Valley wine-growing region. The town is about 51 kilometers (32 miles) northeast of Adelaide and 16 kilometers (10 miles) southeast of Gawler.
Williamstown was first called Victoria Creek. A man named Lewis Johnston bought the land in 1857. He then planned the town in 1858 and named it after his son.
The town is 310 meters (1,017 feet) above sea level. It gets about 680 millimeters (27 inches) of rain each year. Summers are warm, with average temperatures around 31 °C (88 °F). Sometimes, it can get much hotter, even into the mid-40s. Winters are cooler, averaging 15 °C (59 °F). Nights can drop below freezing. These temperatures are great for growing fruits, especially grapes, in the rich soil near the rivers.
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Exploring Williamstown's Past
Williamstown started as a farming area. People raised sheep and cattle. They also grew fruits and vines for wine. The town also had a timber industry with sawmills. Today, only one small family-owned sawmill is left. Many people in Williamstown now work in the wine industry in the Barossa Valley.
Old Buildings and Homes
In 1901, a very old building was found on Yettie Road. It was a hay barn used by ducks and pigeons. People realized it was one of the oldest slab and stone homes in South Australia, built around 1841. It has been carefully fixed up and looks like it did long ago.
The Springfield Homestead, on Springton Road, is another historic building. It was built by John Warren, who came from Scotland in 1838. He started Adelaide's first brewery. Later, he used his money to buy land for farming in the Mount Crawford area. Springfield was part of this land. His family lived there for many years.
Water for the Region
The South Para Reservoir was built in the early 1950s. It helps supply water to Adelaide. It works with two older dams, the Warren Reservoir and the Barossa Reservoir. The Barossa Reservoir has a special curved wall called the Whispering Wall. If you whisper on one side, someone far away on the other side can hear you! This makes it a fun place for visitors.
West of the Barossa Reservoir are the Barossa Goldfields. People rushed here to find gold in 1868. Some small gold mining tours started around 1985.
Williamstown is seen as a "southern gateway" to the Barossa Valley. It has one of South Australia's oldest hotels, built in 1841. You can also see several old farmhouses built by the first settlers. These homes were made from rough-cut timber. One good example is on Warren Road, towards Kersbrook.
Natural Events in Williamstown
In 1956, Williamstown had an earthquake. It was not very strong, but it lasted for almost eight minutes. It caused some damage to stone and brick buildings. After the earthquake, many wells and springs in the area dried up for a few weeks. This happened because of ground movements.
In 1970, the famous Barnum & Bailey, Ringling Brothers Circus came to Williamstown. They performed in their big tent at the Oval. People enjoyed watching their elephants and "the world's smallest horse."
Williamstown's Natural Beauty
Williamstown is especially beautiful in springtime. Green grass and wildflowers cover the ground along the creeks. Thick woodlands grow on the low hills around the town. You can also see large dairy farms and vineyards. To the east and south, there are many forests managed by the Forestry Commission. Some parts of these forests are open for people to visit. There are also large areas of National Park and the Hale Conservation Park for walking and hiking.
The Williamstown Oval is a nice spot for summer. It's in a small valley with lots of trees that provide shade. Cold, clear water springs feed the Victoria Creek stream, which flows through the town. At the Oval, there is a picnic area and a small caravan park. This park is for visitors and people working in the area. It looks out over the local Football Clubhouse and a public swimming pool built in the 1950s.
Local Government and Representation
Williamstown is part of the Barossa Council local government area. For state government, it is in the electoral district of Schubert. For the federal government, it is in the Division of Barker.
