Kadina, South Australia

Kadina redirects here. For a similar spelling, see Kadena (disambiguation).
Kadina
South Australia

Kadina Town Hall
Kadina
Coordinates 33°57′0″S 137°42′0″E / 33.95000°S 137.70000°ECoordinates: 33°57′0″S 137°42′0″E / 33.95000°S 137.70000°E
Population 4,470 (2011 census)[1]
Established 1861
Postcode(s) 5554
Elevation 44 m (144 ft)
Location 144 km (89 mi) NNW of Adelaide
LGA(s) Copper Coast
State electorate(s) Goyder
Federal Division(s) Grey
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
23.0 °C
73 °F		 10.8 °C
51 °F		 386.7 mm
15.2 in
Localities around Kadina:
Wallaroo Tickera Alford
Kadina Bute
Moonta Arthurton Paskeville
Aerial view of Kadina (in the center, inland) and Wallaroo (on the coast). Looking west toward Spencer Gulf
Shops in Graves Street, Kadina

Kadina is a town located on the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia, approximately 144 kilometres north-northwest of the state capital of Adelaide. The largest town of the Peninsula, Kadina is one of the three Copper Triangle towns famous for their shared copper mining history. The three towns are known as "Little Cornwall" for the significant number of immigrants from Cornwall that worked at the mines in the late 19th century.

It is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north-east of Moonta and 8 kilometres east of the port town of Wallaroo. Kadina's suburbs are Kadina East, Wallaroo Mines, Jerusalem, Jericho, Matta Flat and Newtown.

The name "Kadina" is thought to be derived from Kadiyinya, an (indigenous) Narungga tribe word meaning 'Lizard Plain'.

History

The land that was to hold Kadina was surveyed in 1861 after copper was discovered at the site known as Wallaroo Mines (just southwest of today's Kadina town), by settlers who apparently saw wombats throwing copper to the surface. Exceptional amounts of copper were found in the following years. Copper was also found in large amounts at the nearby Matta Mine and Doora Mine. The discovery of copper attracted many highly experienced Cornish miners to Kadina. In 1872 Kadina became a municipality, and by 1875 the population had increased to 20,000, mostly composed of Cornish miners.

In 1862 a horse-drawn railway opened west from Kadina to the port at Wallaroo.[2] Further lines connecting Kadina to Port Wakefield to the southeast and Bute to the northeast opened in 1878 and 1879[3] respectively. [4] These rail lines fell into disuse and were closed in 1989. Mining was completely stopped in 1938.

The town today consists of important historical colonial and federation buildings gathered around Victoria Square. Kadina and its surrounds are experiencing some minor growth due to the Copper Cove housing development at Wallaroo.

Kadina also contains the Farm Shed Museum & Tourism Centre (Kadina Heritage Museum) and remnants of the old Wallaroo Mines. The popular Kernewek Lowender, a Cornish festival, is held every odd year in May in Kadina (as well as Moonta and Wallaroo where each location holds the festival for one day).

The town is also the base for local radio station Gulf FM, broadcasting on 89.3.

Geography and climate

Kadina exists in a semi-arid location, above Goyder's Line, and is surrounded by mallee scrub. It is located 8 kilometres inland and 44 metres above sea level. Kadina has a dry Mediterranean climate with seasonal temperatures a few degrees above Adelaide's temperatures. The average winter temperature is 15.4 °C and the average summer temperature is 30.5 °C. Average rainfall of Kadina is 388.8 millimetres. The weather patterns are similar to those of Adelaide.

Kadina's surrounds are used for growing barley, wheat and other crops such as legumes, canola, chickpeas and field peas. Barley and wheat from the region is considered to be some of the best in the world.

Governance

The District Council of the Copper Coast governs Kadina at the municipal level. Kadina lies in the state electoral district of Goyder and the federal electoral Division of Grey.

Notable people from Kadina

See also

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Kadina (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  2. ↑ South Australian Weekly Chronicle, 12 July 1862, Pp3
  3. ↑ SA Chronicle and Weekly Mail, 8th March 1879, pP7
  4. ↑ Callaghan, W.H. Horse and Steam, Wheat and Copper, Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, January;February, 2002 pp9-27;46-63

External links

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