Koolunga, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Koolunga is a town in the Mid North
of South Australia
. According to the 2006 Australian Census, the population for the town and surrounding area is 204. It is 13 km (approx. 8 miles) east of Redhill
.
. On 5 March 1846, John Hope applied for a land occupation license covering what is now the township. The town was surveyed by W.G. Evans on 30 August 1875 and the first lots of land went on sale on 7 October 1875. Edward John Eyre
named the township Koolunga, a Ngadjuri
(Aboriginal) word meaning "red banks", with reference to the banks of the Broughton River east of Hope's Crossing.
By the early twentieth century, Koolunga had a general store, a hotel, post office, butcher shop, town hall, church, and a garage. However, by the end of the century, the general store, post office, and butcher shop had closed and been turned into residential properties.
, or Clare
for shopping and public services. There is a small primary school and bowling green on the edges of town.
Bunyip Park is situated on the south-east side of Koolunga with a gate leading to the Bunyip River Trail. This short circular trail follows both sides of the Broughton River. Bunyip Park has basic barbecue facilities and can be used as a camp site. A large creature from Aboriginal mythology known as the bunyip
was believed to have been sighted at a nearby waterhole in 1883, giving rise to the name.
local government area, the South Australian House of Assembly
electoral district of Frome
and the Australian House of Representatives
Division of Grey
.
Mid North
The Mid North is a region of South Australia, north of the Adelaide Plains, but not as far north as the Far North, or outback. It is generally accepted to extend from Spencer Gulf east to the Barrier Highway, including the coastal plain, the southern part of the Flinders Ranges, and the northern...
of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. According to the 2006 Australian Census, the population for the town and surrounding area is 204. It is 13 km (approx. 8 miles) east of Redhill
Redhill, South Australia
- Governance :Redhill is in the Port Pirie Regional Council local government area, the South Australian House of Assembly electoral district of Frome and the Australian House of Representatives Division of Grey.-History:...
.
History
Koolunga was established in the 1880s beside the Broughton RiverBroughton River
The Broughton River is a river in South Australia which flows from its confluence with Crystal Brook to the Spencer Gulf. Its mouth is located approximately north of Port Broughton and south west of Port Pirie....
. On 5 March 1846, John Hope applied for a land occupation license covering what is now the township. The town was surveyed by W.G. Evans on 30 August 1875 and the first lots of land went on sale on 7 October 1875. Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre was an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and a controversial Governor of Jamaica....
named the township Koolunga, a Ngadjuri
Ngadjuri
The Ngadjuri people are a group of Indigenous Australians whose traditional lands lie in the mid north of South Australia with a territory extending from Gawler in the south to Orroroo in the north...
(Aboriginal) word meaning "red banks", with reference to the banks of the Broughton River east of Hope's Crossing.
By the early twentieth century, Koolunga had a general store, a hotel, post office, butcher shop, town hall, church, and a garage. However, by the end of the century, the general store, post office, and butcher shop had closed and been turned into residential properties.
Economy
The main economic activities of the town and surrounding area are cereal and canola cropping, with sheep husbandry to a lesser extent.Services
Much like the other small towns in the area, Koolunga provides the bare essential services for its residents and the agriculture industry. Residents will typically travel to the larger towns of Port Pirie, Crystal BrookCrystal Brook
Crystal Brook may refer to:*Crystal Brook *Crystal Brook, South Australia, town...
, or Clare
Clare, South Australia
The town of Clare is located in South Australia in the Mid North region, 136 km north of Adelaide. It gives its name to the Clare Valley wine and tourist region.-History:One of the first settlers in the area was John Horrocks, in 1839...
for shopping and public services. There is a small primary school and bowling green on the edges of town.
Bunyip Park is situated on the south-east side of Koolunga with a gate leading to the Bunyip River Trail. This short circular trail follows both sides of the Broughton River. Bunyip Park has basic barbecue facilities and can be used as a camp site. A large creature from Aboriginal mythology known as the bunyip
Bunyip
The bunyip, or kianpraty, is a large mythical creature from Aboriginal mythology, said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, creeks, riverbeds, and waterholes....
was believed to have been sighted at a nearby waterhole in 1883, giving rise to the name.
Governance
Koolunga is in the Port Pirie Regional CouncilPort Pirie Regional Council
The Port Pirie Regional Council is a Local Government Area in South Australia, focused on the city of Port Pirie. It has a population of about 22,000 people. The council's administrative facilities and works depot can be found in Port Pirie. Other rural towns such as Crystal Brook, Redhill,...
local government area, the South Australian House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
electoral district of Frome
Electoral district of Frome
Frome is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after Edward Charles Frome, the third surveyor-general of South Australia. The electorate is based around the industrial city of Port Pirie and the agriculture areas of Clare and Gilbert...
and the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
Division of Grey
Division of Grey
The Division of Grey is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir George Grey, who was Governor of South Australia 1841-45 ....
.