Ungarra, South Australia

Ungarra
South Australia
Ungarra
Coordinates 34°10′0″S 136°02′0″E / 34.16667°S 136.03333°E / -34.16667; 136.03333Coordinates: 34°10′0″S 136°02′0″E / 34.16667°S 136.03333°E / -34.16667; 136.03333
Population 241 (2006 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 5607[2]
Elevation 114 m (374 ft)
Location
LGA(s) District Council of Tumby Bay
State electorate(s) Flinders
Federal Division(s) Grey
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
? ? 408 mm
16.1 in

Ungarra is a small agricultural based town located in the north eastern Eyre Peninsula, South Australia about 248 kilometres (154 mi) from the state's capital, Adelaide[2] and around 80 km north of Port Lincoln. At the 2006 census, Ungarra had a population of 241.[1]

The name 'Ungarra' is derived from a nearby waterhole of the same name which is located just to the south of the township. It has a Mediterranean climate and receives on average just over 400mm of rainfall every year

Overview

Settlers started farming the area in the early 1900s as the railway from Port Lincoln reached Ungarra in 1909. This provided an incentive for the clearing of what was generally mallee/Melaleuca mix of native vegetation for the growing of wheat. This railway is still in operation and the branchline extends to Buckleboo in the normal but now is only operational to Kimba. An important local historic location in the nearby Moody Rock and Tanks where water was collected from a natural outcropping of granite and stored in a large tank for the require water for steam trains. Ownership of this site currently resides with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and it is a popular picnic location particularly in spring. Moody Rocks Water Tank is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. [3]

On the southern entrance to the township, the stands the Pioneer Memorial Park, with an iconic old windmill that still stands in tribute to the settlers who helped develop and settle the area a little over a hundred years ago. Ungarra celebrated its century in 2008 in Pioneer Memorial Park within the township. In its heyday, Ungarra sported a bank, a bakery, a school up to year 10, and general store and two churches. While the buildings for many of these enterprises still stand, only the school (R-7) and one of the churches is still in operation. The agricultural production around the area has expanded from the original wheat and now includes barley, lupins, faba beans, field peas and canola. There are also livestock industries, particularly sheep-based.

The town has a number of facilities, including sporting grounds and a primary school as well as a lawn bowling green and soldier memorial hall. The town is part of a popular tourist drive that can be done from Tumby Bay, with no camping or accommodation available within the town. Other conveniences include public toilets and payphone. The town also has clearly visible grain silos operated by Viterra which while being quiet for most the year spring into life in the November–December period each year.

Transport

Ungarra is served by a freight-only station of the 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge Eyre Peninsula Railway. While having a number of unsealed roads running into Ungarra, it is connected to Lipson and the Lincoln Highway via a sealed all weather road the sealing of which was only completed in 2004.

A proposed 27 km branchline connects Ungarra with the proposed iron ore port of Sheep Hill which is 20 km northeast of Tumby Bay.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Ungarra (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Ungarra, South Australia (Postcode)". postcodes-australia.com. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Water Tank, Moody Rocks, Moody Tank Conservation Park". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 13 February 2016.

External links

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