Blyth, South Australia
| Blyth South Australia | |||||||||||||
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Main street of Blyth, looking north | |||||||||||||
  Blyth | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 33°50′S 138°29′E / 33.833°S 138.483°ECoordinates: 33°50′S 138°29′E / 33.833°S 138.483°E | ||||||||||||
| Population | 306 (2006 Census)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Established | 1875 | ||||||||||||
| Location | 132 km (82 mi) north of Adelaide | ||||||||||||
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Blyth is a small town in the Mid North of South Australia, located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west of the renowned Clare Valley. It has a population of 306, the farming community spanning the plains between the Clare Hills and the Barunga/Hummocks ranges. Altitude is 189 metres (620 ft), and rainfall is approximately 400 millimetres (16 in) per annum.
Located approximately 132 kilometres (82 mi) north of Adelaide, the district's climate and soils are well suited to wheat, barley, legumes, hay, sheep, cattle and pigs.
Blyth is recognised as being a strong small community with a big spirit. The town today boasts a General Store, Post Office, Pub and Gallery/Studio, as well as sporting facilities for football, netball, bowls, cricket, tennis and golf. Several businesses based in Blyth service the region. A recent addition is the Blyth Cinema housed in a renovated Masonic Hall.[2][3]
The township was proclaimed in 1860 and named in honour of Sir Arthur Blyth, who arrived in South Australia as a teenager with his parents in 1839 and went on to become a businessman and parliamentarian. The township of Blyth was founded in 1875.
Railway
In 1876, it was the terminus of the narrow gauge railway to Port Wakefield. This line ultimately was extended to Gladstone and converted to broad (1600 mm) gauge.[4]
Adjacent stations were Brinkworth to the north and Halbury to the south.
See also
References
- ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Blyth (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
- ↑ Roberts, Ian (16 June 2008). "Blyth Regional Cinema: Winner, Westpac Australian Community Idol 2008" (PDF). Communities in Control Conference, 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2010. (PDF)
- ↑ "Cinema". Blyth Progress Association. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- ↑ Horse and Steam, Wheat and Copper Callaghan, W.H. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, January;February, 2002 pp9-27;46-63