Whyalla, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Demographics
According to the 2006 Census the population of the Whyalla census area was 21,122 people, making it the second largest urban area in the state outside of Adelaide. Approximately 50.6% of the population were male, 73% are Australian born, over 86.3% of residents are Australian citizens and 3.6% were Indigenous.The most popular industries for employment were Metal Manufacturing (17.9%), School Education (5.8%) and Health (4.8%), while the unemployment rate is approx. 5.6%. The median weekly household income is A$744 or more per week, compared with $924 in Adelaide. 19.7% of the population identify themselves as Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, while a higher 29.8% identify with no religion at all.
2007 population estimates have Whyalla's population at 22,612 people, an increase of 7% on the previous year. This constitutes the city's largest growth since 1974-75.
Transport
A narrow gaugeNarrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
so-called tramway was built to Iron Knob to supply iron ore originally used as flux when smelting copper ore. This ore became the basis of the steelworks. As the Iron Knob deposits were worked out, the railway was diverted to other sources of ore at Iron Monarch, Iron Prince, Iron Duke
Iron Duke
Iron Duke may refer to:*Two dukes, both military officers, were nicknamed the "Iron Duke" during their lifetimes:**Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington***The Iron Duke , 1934 film starring George Arliss as Wellington...
and Iron Baron
Iron Baron
MV Iron Baron was a 37,557 dwt bulk carrier built in 1985 and chartered by BHP. On 10 July 1995 it was nearing the end of a voyage transporting 24,000 tonnes of manganese ore from Groote Eylandt via Port Kembla to the port of Launceston in northern Tasmania, Australia. Weather conditions at the...
.
To enable interchange between the BHP's other steelworks in Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
and Port Kembla of specialised rollingstock, the railway system within the Whyalla steelworks was converted to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
circa 1963.
Although the steelworks produced railway rail, for several decades there was no railway connection to the mainland system. Finally in 1972, a standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
link to Port Augusta
Port Augusta, South Australia
-Electricity generation:Electricity is generated at the Playford B and Northern power stations from brown coal mined at Leigh Creek, 250 km to the north...
was completed.
Some iron ore is exported from Whyalla. In 2007, steps were being taken to export iron ore from Peculiar Knob, 600 km away.
Whyalla is served by Whyalla Airport
Whyalla Airport
Whyalla Airport is an airport in Whyalla, South Australia.-Background:The council of the City of Whyalla has operated the airport since 1991 when it was handed over to the council by the Federal Labor Party who were in power at the time. Unfortunately for Whyalla, the main runway's pavement...
, with Regional Express
Regional Express Airlines
Regional Express Pty Ltd is an airline based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. It operates scheduled regional services. It is Australia's largest regional airline outside the Qantas group of companies and serves New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, North Queensland and Tasmania...
flying into Whyalla from Adelaide a number of times a day. On 31 May 2000, Whyalla Airlines Flight 904 (registration VH-MZK) crashed into the Spencer Gulf
Spencer Gulf
The Spencer Gulf is the westernmost of two large inlets on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, facing the Great Australian Bight. The Gulf is 322 km long and 129 km wide at its mouth. The western shore of the Gulf is the Eyre Peninsula, while the eastern side is the...
due to engine failure in mid flight. All 8 people on board (1 Pilot, 7 Passengers) died.
The city is also served by Premier Stateliner which operates 4 coach (bus) services to and from Adelaide (via Pt Augusta) each week day (less on weekends) and one service each way to Pt. Lincoln. There are however occasional exceptions to the week day route due to lack of demand to travel through Whyalla.
Tourism
Though maintaining strong effort for the tourism industry, Whyalla has struggled to compete with other cities in the area in regards to tourism. Such attractions possessed by the city to attract more tourists include HMAS Whyalla.HMAS Whyalla was a World War II-era corvette. It was the first ship built in the city of Whyalla and was named after the city. The ship was landlocked as a tourist attraction in 1987, the main attraction of the Whyalla Maritime Museum.
In the late 1990s the spectacular annual migration of the Australian Giant Cuttlefish
Australian Giant Cuttlefish
Sepia apama, also known as the Australian Giant Cuttlefish, is the world's largest cuttlefish species, growing to 50 cm in mantle length and over 10.5 kg in weight. Using cells known as chromatophores, the cuttlefish can put on spectacular displays, changing colour in an instant.S...
Sepia apama to the reef areas in the Spencer Gulf
Spencer Gulf
The Spencer Gulf is the westernmost of two large inlets on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, facing the Great Australian Bight. The Gulf is 322 km long and 129 km wide at its mouth. The western shore of the Gulf is the Eyre Peninsula, while the eastern side is the...
north of Whyalla around Black Point and Point Lowly became recognised by international divers. It has also come to the attention of divers of Whyalla, that the same area in which the cuttlefish breed is, just a few months later, the place of congregation for squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
, which also come there to breed. This has only come to the attention of locals in 2005. There are also dolphins that frequent the local marina.
The Whyalla Conservation Park provides an example of the natural semi-arid environment.
The Hummock Hill lookout provides excellent views across the town, the port and the coast.
Whyalla is home to the annual Snapper Fishing Competition. Those who have not fished commercially in the past 12 months are invited to try their luck over a weekend. Prizes are awarded bases on individual fish weights. Tagging also takes place at this time.
State & Federal
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Whyalla is part of the state electoral district of Giles
Electoral district of Giles
Giles is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. The electorate, named after explorer Ernest Giles, is the largest in South Australia, covering a 500,738.0km² swathe of outback South Australia...
, which has been held since 1997 by Labor MP Lyn Breuer
Lyn Breuer
Lynette Ruth "Lyn" Breuer , Australian politician, represents the electoral district of Giles in the South Australian House of Assembly for the Australian Labor Party...
. The seat is held by a margin of 14.4%. In federal politics, the city is part of the 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 ....
, and has been represented by Liberal MP Rowan Ramsey
Rowan Ramsey
Rowan Eric Ramsey is the Liberal Party of Australia representative for the electoral division of Grey, which covers the vast geographical majority of South Australia, succeeding prior Liberal MP Barry Wakelin as of the 2007 federal election.-External links:**...
since 2007. Grey is held with a margin of 8.86% and is considered safe-liberal. The results shown are from the largest polling station in Whyalla Norrie — which is located at Nicolson Avenue Primary School.
Local
Whyalla is in the City of WhyallaCity of Whyalla
The City Of Whyalla is a local government area in South Australia, located at the top of the Eyre Peninsula. The council was established in 1970, replacing the town commission, which had been running the town previously...
local government area (along with some of the sparsely inhabited areas around it).
Primary schools
Primary schools in Whyalla include Whyalla Town Primary School, Fisk Street Primary School, Long Street Primary School, Hincks Avenue Primary School, Memorial Oval Primary School, Whyalla Stuart Campus, Nicolson Avenue Primary School, Whyalla Christian School, St Teresa's and Our Lady Help of Christians.Secondary schools
Secondary Education is provided by Whyalla High SchoolWhyalla High School
Whyalla High School was the first high school built in Whyalla. It was built by BHP in 1943, as a Technical school for BHP’s apprentices to be educated in. The school catered for year 8 to year 12. There were 113 students who were originally enrolled at the school...
, Stuart High School, Edward John Eyre High School
Edward John Eyre High School
Located in Grundel Street Whyalla, South Australia, Edward John Eyre High School opened in 1968 as Eyre Technical High School.Built during the boom period, student enrolment reached around 1500 in the 1970s...
and Saint John's College, Whyalla
Saint John's College, Whyalla
SAMARITAN COLLEGE ST JOHN'S CAMPUS. was founded as a Catholic school for boys by the Bishop of Port Pirie on July 8, 1962, and conducted by the Christian Brothers. It complemented an already existing Catholic system of education in Whyalla. In 1975 St...
.
Tertiary education
Tertiary education is provided by the Spencer Institute of TAFETechnical and Further Education
In Australia, training and further education or TAFE institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational tertiary education courses, mostly qualifying courses under the National Training System/Australian Qualifications Framework/Australian Quality Training Framework...
, and the Whyalla Campus of the University of South Australia. UniSA Whyalla's academic programs include business, social work, nursing and research opportunities in rural health and community development.
Sister cities
Whyalla has two sister cities, according to the Australian Sister Cities Association.- Texas CityTexas City, TexasTexas City is a city in Chambers and Galveston counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 41,521 at the 2000 census. It is a part of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... - EzhouEzhou-Geography and climate:Ezhou is located in southeastern Hubei province, on the southern bank of the Yangtze River east of Wuchang , and across the river from the city of Huanggang, to which it is connected by the Ehuang Bridge...
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Notable people from Whyalla
- Robert BajicRobert BajicRobert Bajic , is an Australian football player of Croatian background. He last played as a goalkeeper for Sông Lam Nghệ An in the V-League.- Club career :...
- soccerFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player - Aileen Ekblom OBE - first female and longest serving Mayor of Whyalla 1975-1991
- Levi GreenwoodLevi GreenwoodLevi Greenwood is an Australian rules footballer with the North Melbourne Football Club. Greenwood grew up in the small coastal town of Port Neill on the Eyre Peninsula, and moved to Whyalla in his teens....
- AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
player with North Melbourne Kangaroos - Barrie RobranBarrie RobranBarrie Charles Robran MBE is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League , widely acknowledged as a champion in his sport....
3 time SANFLSouth Australian National Football LeagueThe South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
Magarey MedalMagarey MedalFor the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
winner (1968, 1970, 1973) - Ian RawlingsIan RawlingsIan Rawlings is an Australian actor. He had two long-running roles in Australian soap operas.-Television Work:He started out playing the role of the spiteful and scheming Wayne Hamilton in Sons and Daughters...
- actor - Vern SchuppanVern SchuppanVernon "Vern" Schuppan is a racing driver from Whyalla, South Australia. Schuppan drove in various categories, participating in Formula One, the Indianapolis 500 and most successfully in sports car racing.-Formula One:...
- former Formula OneFormula OneFormula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
driver and 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans1983 24 Hours of Le MansThe 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 51st Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 18 and 19 1983. It was also the fourth round of both the World Endurance Championship and European Endurance Championship. The win was fought right down to the line between the Rothmans Porsche 956s of Al...
winner - Robert ShirleyRobert Shirley (footballer)Robert Shirley is an Australian Rules footballer who is currently clubless after being delisted by the Adelaide Crows. He plays primarily as a tagger but is also adept as a contested possession winning midfielder...
- AFL player with Adelaide CrowsAdelaide CrowsThe Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League .... - Peter StanleyPeter StanleyDr Peter Stanley is an Australian historian. He is Head of the Centre for Historical Research at the National Museum of Australia. Between 1980 and 2007 he was an historian and curator at the Australian War Memorial, including as head of the Historical Research Section and Principal Historian...
- historian - Carl VeartCarl VeartCarl Veart is a former Australian football player who last played as a striker for Adelaide United.-Club career:...
- International soccer player. Played 18 games for the Socceroos. - Isaac WeetraIsaac WeetraIsaac Weetra is a semi-professional Australian rules footballer.He is notable for his brief Australian Football League stint, playing with the Melbourne Demons and wearing the No...
- AFL player with Melbourne Demons