Hawker, South Australia

Hawker
South Australia

Hawker Hotel-Motel
Hawker
Coordinates 31°53′0″S 138°25′0″E / 31.88333°S 138.41667°E / -31.88333; 138.41667Coordinates: 31°53′0″S 138°25′0″E / 31.88333°S 138.41667°E / -31.88333; 138.41667
Population 229 (2006 census)[1]
Established 1880
Postcode(s) 5434
Elevation 315 m (1,033 ft)
Location 365 km (227 mi) N of Adelaide
LGA(s) Flinders Ranges Council
State electorate(s) Electoral district of Stuart
Federal Division(s) Division of Grey
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
25.1 °C
77 °F
10.6 °C
51 °F
307.5 mm
12.1 in

Hawker is a town in the Flinders Ranges area of South Australia, 365 kilometres (227 mi) north of Adelaide. It is in the Flinders Ranges Council, the state Electoral district of Stuart and the federal Division of Grey. At the 2006 census, Hawker had a population of 229.[1]

History

Hawker was a thriving railway town from the 1880s until 1956 as it was on the famous Ghan railway line, until the route was moved further west when the line was upgraded.

Heritage listings

Hawker has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Economy

The main economic activities in the area are tourism and pastoral runs of sheep and increasingly cattle. Due to the arid environment, the stocking rates are low, at about one sheep per three to four hectares. Hawker is 55 kilometres (34 mi) south of Wilpena Pound, a unique natural dish-shaped range of hills popular with tourists, as well as the spectacular scenery of the Southern Flinders Ranges.

Tourism

The Hawker Racing Club holds a once a year Thoroughbred horse race meeting which includes the Hawker Cup in late May which attracts many people from around the area.[9]

Climate

Hawker has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cool winters. Rainfall is very sparse throughout the year, but more reliable in the winter months.

Climate data for Hawker
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 46.0
(114.8)
44.5
(112.1)
41.5
(106.7)
37.0
(98.6)
29.4
(84.9)
25.3
(77.5)
26.9
(80.4)
30.0
(86)
36.3
(97.3)
39.2
(102.6)
44.0
(111.2)
44.5
(112.1)
46.0
(114.8)
Average high °C (°F) 34.3
(93.7)
33.4
(92.1)
30.1
(86.2)
25.5
(77.9)
20.0
(68)
16.4
(61.5)
15.9
(60.6)
17.8
(64)
21.7
(71.1)
25.7
(78.3)
29.3
(84.7)
31.8
(89.2)
25.2
(77.4)
Average low °C (°F) 18.0
(64.4)
18.0
(64.4)
14.9
(58.8)
11.0
(51.8)
7.1
(44.8)
4.4
(39.9)
3.7
(38.7)
4.3
(39.7)
6.8
(44.2)
9.8
(49.6)
13.6
(56.5)
15.8
(60.4)
10.6
(51.1)
Record low °C (°F) 5.6
(42.1)
9.4
(48.9)
5.1
(41.2)
0.9
(33.6)
−2.7
(27.1)
−3.7
(25.3)
−4.7
(23.5)
−2.8
(27)
−3.0
(26.6)
−0.2
(31.6)
2.0
(35.6)
6.2
(43.2)
−4.7
(23.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 19.9
(0.783)
21.0
(0.827)
16.7
(0.657)
19.4
(0.764)
30.6
(1.205)
38.2
(1.504)
33.9
(1.335)
31.7
(1.248)
27.6
(1.087)
24.6
(0.969)
23.0
(0.906)
22.0
(0.866)
308.6
(12.15)
Average precipitation days 2.7 2.7 2.6 3.4 5.5 7.2 7.8 7.2 5.6 5.1 4.0 3.6 57.4
Source: [10]

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Hawker (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  2. "St Philip and St James Catholic Church". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  3. "Mount Desire Dyke (designated place of geological significance)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  4. "Hawker Railway Station Complex - Goods Shed, Wool Platform and Crane". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  5. "Hawker Railway Station Complex - Station Building". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  6. "Hawker Railway Station Complex - Water Tank and Water Column". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  7. "1885 Hawker Dam". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  8. "Wirreanda Creek Railway Bridge [Metal Girder]". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  9. "Hawker Races & Cabaret". Hawker Community Development Board. May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  10. "Climate statistics for". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 21 January 2014.

External links

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