Wirrabara, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wirrabara South Australia
Wirrabara Location in South Australia
Population	230 (urban centre) (2016 census) 403 (state suburb) (2016 census)
Established	13 August 1874 (town) 13 March 1997 (locality)
Postcode(s)	5481
Elevation	329 m (1,079 ft)
LGA(s)	District Council of Mount Remarkable
State electorate(s)	Electoral district of Stuart
Federal Division(s)	Division of Grey
Localities around Wirrabara: Bangor Wongyarra Booleroo Centre Telowie Wirrabara Appila Beetaloo Valley, Nelshaby Stone Hut Caltowie West

Wirrabara is a small town and area in South Australia. It is located about 235 kilometers (146 miles) north of Adelaide, the state capital. You can find Wirrabara in the southern part of the Flinders Ranges, a beautiful mountain range. It sits along the Rocky River. The main road, called the Horrocks Highway, goes right through the town. In 2016, about 403 people lived in the Wirrabara area, with 230 of them living right in the town center.

Wirrabara's Past: A Look at History

What Does the Name Wirrabara Mean?

The name Wirrabara comes from the languages of the local Aboriginal people. In the Kaurna language, wirra means "gum trees" and birra means "running water". The Nukunu language has similar words: wira and parl, which mean "gum trees with honey" and "water."

Early Industries and Growth

Wirrabara started as a place for cutting timber in the early 1850s. This means people were harvesting trees for wood. The town itself was officially planned and mapped out in 1874. A few years later, in 1877, Australia's very first government forest nursery was planted in the nearby Wirrabara forest. This nursery helped grow new trees.

The Arrival of the Railway

For many years, the people of Wirrabara wanted a railway line to connect them to other towns. Finally, in the 1910s, the Wilmington railway line was extended. It came from Gladstone and Laura, passed through Wirrabara and Booleroo Centre, and ended in Wilmington. This made it much easier to transport goods and people.

Historic Landmarks

One important historical building in Wirrabara is the Copper Mine Chimney, Wirrabara. It's on Main North Road and is the last part of an old mine called Charlton. This chimney is so important that it's listed on the South Australian Heritage Register, which protects special historical places.

Life in Wirrabara Today

How Locals Say the Name

According to a person named Peter Goers, many people who live in Wirrabara say the town's name as "Rabra."

What Wirrabara is Known For

Wirrabara still has a timber industry today, meaning they continue to work with wood from trees. It's also a strong farming community. If you visit, you might enjoy the producers' market, which happens on the third Sunday of every month. Nearby, you can also see an amazing example of silo art created by an artist known as Smug (whose real name is Sam Bates). Silo art is when large grain silos are painted with huge murals.