Port Germein, South Australia

Port Germein
South Australia

Port Germein jetty, Dec 2008
Port Germein
Coordinates 33°01′0″S 138°00′0″E / 33.01667°S 138.00000°ECoordinates: 33°01′0″S 138°00′0″E / 33.01667°S 138.00000°E
Population 249 (2006 census)[1]
Established 1878
Postcode(s) 5495
Location
  • 240 km (149 mi) N of Adelaide
  • 26 km (16 mi) N of Port Pirie
  • 15 km (9 mi) N of Port Flinders
LGA(s) District Council of Mount Remarkable
State electorate(s) Stuart
Federal Division(s) Grey

Port Germein is a small sea-side town situated 27 km to the north of Port Pirie on the eastern side of South Australia's Spencer Gulf. Pt Germein was the second German settlement in south Australia and was named after Samuel Germein, who discovered it in 1840.[2] though some credit his brother John.[3] The township was proclaimed in 1878. Port Germein's population in the 2006 census was 249.[1]

The windjammer 'Admiral Karpfanger' moored at Port Germein jetty in South Australia, 1938.

Originally named "Hummock Harbour",[4] Port Germein was once an important transport hub for the surrounding districts following the opening of its jetty in 1881 – at the time known as the longest jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Due to the shallow water along the coast, the long jetty was built to allow sailing ships to be loaded with grain from surrounding districts. Bagged wheat came from the local area, the eastern side of the Southern Flinders Ranges via Port Germein Gorge (opened in 1879), and from the west coast in smaller boats. About 100,000 bags of wheat were loaded per year. The jetty was extended to its full length of 1680m in 1883.[5] With the opening of the port came an influx of workers from Adelaide, and by 1900 the town's population had grown to over 300. Use of the port declined when rail was extended to Port Germein in 1934, and the jetty was later reduced to its present length of 1532m due to storm damage.[6]

Lighthouse

A lighthouse was erected at the end of the jetty in 1894, replacing the Port Germein Lightship. The lighthouse was manned until July 1917, when it was replaced by an AGA flashing light. The lighthouse was re-established at its current site in 1975.

Pier

The pier had a railway line extending into the township.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Port Germein (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
  2. ↑ ""Port Adelaide in 1867".". The Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 13 April 1918. p. 10. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "Port Germein". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
  4. ↑ "The Adelaide Steamship Company". The Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 13 May 1922. p. 12. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  5. ↑ The Port Germein Jetty Tramway Eardley, Gifford Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, February 1974 pp44-47
  6. ↑ "Port Germein". Seaside Lights. Garry Searle. 2005. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
  7. ↑ "PORT GERMEIN NEWS.". The Recorder (Port Pirie, SA: National Library of Australia). 17 December 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 25 November 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Port Germein, South Australia.