Karoonda, South Australia

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Karoonda
South Australia

Main Street of Karoonda
Karoonda
Coordinates 35°5′S 139°53′E / 35.083°S 139.883°E / -35.083; 139.883Coordinates: 35°5′S 139°53′E / 35.083°S 139.883°E / -35.083; 139.883
Population 514 (2006)[1] (2006)
Postcode(s) 5307
LGA(s) District Council of Karoonda East Murray
State electorate(s) Hammond
Federal Division(s) Barker
Karoonda grows big sheep like this concrete one

Karoonda is in the middle of the Murray Mallee region of South Australia at geographic coordinates 35°05′S 139°53′E / 35.083°S 139.883°E / -35.083; 139.883 (60 km northeast of Murray Bridge). Karoonda takes its name from the Aboriginal word for "winter camp".

It was founded on wheat growing early in the 20th century (proclaimed on 11 December 1913), but the cleared land is also suitable for raising merino sheep. The Karoonda Development Group instigated and built this larger-than-life sculpture of a Merino ram in the park in the main street to emphasise this. There are even seats with rams heads dotted around the town. A number of other agricultural and horticultural industries are now also represented in the district. Each year the Karoonda Farm Fair is held, a two-day event attracting over 10,000 visitors to the town.

Railways were built in 1911-1914 to open up the mallee, and Karoonda was a junction with branch lines to Waikerie and Peebinga,[2] both were closed in 1990, but the line from Tailem Bend to Loxton remains open and was converted from broad gauge to standard gauge.

Karoonda briefly shot to international fame in 1930 when a meteorite fell to earth just to the east of the town on the night of 25 November.

Karoonda Area School was the first area school in South Australia.

Karoonda is in the District Council of Karoonda East Murray, the state electorate of Hammond and the federal Division of Barker.

Pioneer Park on East Terrace is being developed as a Malleelands Pioneer Railways and farm museum, with displays of harvest machinery, plows, railway rolling stock and facilities already in place. The Nature Trail & Bush Walk is adjacent.

Surrounding communities

North: Perponda & Bowhill
West: Wynarka, Tailem Bend
& Murray Bridge		 Karoonda East: Lowaldie, Borrika, Sandalwood
& Marama
South: Sherlock & Yumali South-East: Lameroo

Photo gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karoonda, South Australia.

  • Post Office

  • General Store

  • ABB Silos

  • Old Railway Station

  • Police Memorial, Railway Tce

  • Lions Pioneer Park

  • Painting at Parking Bay

  • Memorial Gates at the Oval

  • Obelisk

  • Obelisk

  • Area School

  • Area School

  • Oval

  • Institute

  • Hospital

  • Karoonda Pub

  • "All Hallows" Anglican Church

  • St Finian's Catholic Church

  • St Johns Lutheran Church

  • Uniting Church

  • Op-Shop

  • Ambulance Station

  • CFS Station

  • Police Station

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Karoonda (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2008-02-28. 
  2. ↑ Rail Line to Nowhere Southwell, J.G. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, July, 1971 pp146-151
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