Wunkar, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WunkarSouth Australia |
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The Golden Grain Tavern in Wunkar's main street, near the town's grain silos
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 Wunkar
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 1925 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5311 | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 27 km (17 mi) W of Loxton | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | District Council of Loxton Waikerie | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Chaffey | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Barker | ||||||||||||||
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Wunkar is a small town located in the Murray Mallee region of South Australia. This area is known for its dry climate and unique native plants. Wunkar began as a stop on the Moorook railway line. The town was officially planned and mapped out in 1926, a year after its railway station was named in 1925.
About Wunkar
Even though the railway line closed in 1971, Wunkar is still an important place for the local farming community. It is located right next to the Stott Highway, which is about 27 kilometers west of the larger town of Loxton.
Wunkar's History
Wunkar's early days were closely linked to the railway. The railway was very important for transporting goods like grain and wool, and also for people traveling across the region. The town's school opened in 1925, providing education for children in the area. However, like the railway, the school eventually closed its doors in 1973.
Grain Silos Today
Today, you can still see large bulk grain silos where the old railway station used to be. These tall structures are used to store huge amounts of grain harvested from nearby farms. The grain is kept safe in the silos until it can be transported to other places for processing or sale.
Nearby Places of the Past
The area around Wunkar also has a history of other small settlements that no longer exist.
Tuscan
To the south of Wunkar, along Farr Road, was once a small town and railway siding called Tuscan. A railway siding is like a side track where trains can stop or wait. Tuscan had a sawmill, which was a place where logs were cut into timber. Even though it was a busy railway spot in its time, there are no buildings or signs of Tuscan left today.
Myrla
Towards the northern part of the Wunkar area, there was another railway siding called Parrelun. This name was changed to Myrla in 1925. Myrla also had a school that opened in 1920. Just like Tuscan, there is no evidence of Myrla remaining today.
