Mid North region

Mid North region South Australia

The Mid North is a region of South Australia, north of the Adelaide Plains, but not as far north as the Far North, or the outback. It is generally accepted to extend from Spencer Gulf east to the Barrier Highway, including the coastal plain, the southern part of the Flinders Ranges, and the northern part of the Mount Lofty Ranges. The area was settled as early as 1840 (South Australia settlement began in 1836) and provided early farming and mining outputs for the fledgling colony. Farming is still significant in the area, particularly wheat, sheep and grapevines. There are not currently any significant mining activities in the Mid North.

Mid North region South Australia

Aborigines Southern Australia

The main indigenous group of the Mid North are the Ngadjuri people. There were disputes and conflicts between the white settlers and the Aborigines, particularly in the 1850s and 1860s, but Ngadjuri people remain in the area and hold native title rights over the area. The extreme south west of the Mid North region is a part of the traditional lands of the Kaurna people

Towns for which forecasts are published by the bureau demonstrate major townships within the bounds of the region. In the northern portion forecasts are published for: Hawker, Port Augusta and Ororroo. Towns for which weather forecasts are published in the southern region are: Port Pirie, Jamestown, Clare, Roseworthy and Snowtown.

The rugged Onkaparinga River National Park features South Australia’s second-longest river as it slices through a steep valley and descends into an impressive gorge containing large rock pools. The national park, which takes its name from the local Kaurna word meaning ‘women’s river’, offers a range of activities from fishing and canoeing to bushwalking and rock-climbing.

Clare Valley wineries and the historically important coppermining sites of Burra make this a great place for a weekend away.

Balaklava Mid North region South Australia

Balaklava vith a population of 1627 is set on the Wakefield River in an area dominated by traditional wheat and sheep farms. It sprang up as a stopping point between the Burra copper fields and Port Wakefield, but a grain merchant from Adelaide, Charles Fisher, soon turned the focus to agriculture. He built grain stores here before there was any sign of grain. This proved a canny move, as it lured farmers to the area. The town features old sandstone buildings and a 'silent cop', a curious keep-left sign in the middle of a roundabout.

Clare Mid North region South Australia

Clare vith a population of 3016 is known as the 'Garden of the North'. In the mid-1800s, Edward John Eyre reported favourably on the area and pastoral settlement followed; the town came to be known as Clare after the county in Ireland. The land has proved as favourable as Eyre claimed and Clare continues to boast a rich agricultural industry, including the famous Clare Valley wine region. The first vines were planted by Jesuit priests at Sevenhill in 1851. The Sevenhill Cellars are still operated by Jesuit brothers and the monastery buildings, including the historic St Aloysius Church, are of special interest.

The Burra region, Population 976,  exploded into activity when copper was found by two shepherds in 1845. Settlements were established based on the miners' country of origin: Aberdeen for the Scottish, Hampton for the English, Redruth for the Cornish and Llwchwr for the Welsh. The combined settlement grew to be the second largest in South Australia, but the miners were fickle – with riches promised on the Victorian goldfields, they did not stay for long. In 1877 the Monster Mine closed. Luckily, Burra did not turn into a ghost town. Instead, the rich heritage of its past has been carefully preserved by the community, resulting in the town being declared a State Heritage Area in 1993. Burra is in the Bald Hill Ranges, named for the 'naked' hills around the town.

Jamestown, Population 1408,  survived the demise of wheat crops in the late 1800s to become an important service town to the thriving agricultural farmlands of the Clare Valley. John Bristow Hughes took up the first pastoral lease in 1841 and the strength of stud sheep and cattle farms, cereals, dairy produce and timber grew rapidly. A look at the names of towns in South Australia will reveal that the governors, politicians and surveyors of the day were bent on commemorating themselves or people they liked. Jamestown followed this trend, named after Sir James Fergusson, then state governor.

Peterborough Mid North region South Australia

Kapunda,  Population 2479, is between two wine districts – the Barossa Valley and the Clare Valley – but its history is very different. Copper was discovered here by Francis Dutton, a sheep farmer, in 1842. It was to be the highest-grade copper ore found in the world. Settlement followed, and Kapunda came into existence as Australia's first coppermining town. When the mines closed in 1878, Australia's 'cattle king' Sir Sidney Kidman moved in, eventually controlling 26 million hectares of land across Australia.

Peterborough, Population 1689,  is a town obsessed with the railway. Its very existence and growth can be claimed by that industry. In 1881 the line to Jamestown was opened and over the next few years the town became a key intersection between all the major South Australian towns. Locals boast about how, in a mammoth one-day effort, 105 trains travelled the Broken Hill to Port Pirie line. The rail passion continued even after many of the lines closed, and today each entrance to the town has a welcoming model steam train.

Mid North Wine Region

Mid North region South Australia

The Mid North is a region of South Australia, north of the Adelaide Plains, but not as far north as the Far North, or the outback. It is generally accepted to extend from Spencer Gulf east to the Barrier Highway, including the coastal plain, the southern part of the Flinders Ranges, and the northern part of the Mount Lofty Ranges. The Mid North area was settled as early as 1840 (South Australia settlement began in 1836) and provided early farming and mining outputs for the fledgling colony. Farming is still significant in the area, particularly wheat, sheep and grapevines. There are not currently any significant mining activities in the Mid North.

Mid North region South Australia

Aborigines Southern Australia

The main indigenous group of the Mid North are the Ngadjuri people. There were disputes and conflicts between the white settlers and the Aborigines, particularly in the 1850s and 1860s, but Ngadjuri people remain in the area and hold native title rights over the area. The extreme south west of the Mid North region is a part of the traditional lands of the Kaurna people

Towns for which forecasts are published by the bureau demonstrate major townships within the bounds of the region. In the northern portion forecasts are published for: Hawker, Port Augusta and Ororroo. Towns for which weather forecasts are published in the southern region are: Port Pirie, Jamestown, Clare, Roseworthy and Snowtown.

The rugged Onkaparinga River National Park features South Australia’s second-longest river as it slices through a steep valley and descends into an impressive gorge containing large rock pools. The national park, which takes its name from the local Kaurna word meaning ‘women’s river’, offers a range of activities from fishing and canoeing to bushwalking and rock-climbing.

Clare Valley wineries and the historically important coppermining sites of Burra make this a great place for a weekend away.

The Clare Valley boasts more than 30 cellar doors, some operating out of stone cottages, heritage buildings, state-of-the art structures and farm sheds. Many of the buildings capture breathtaking views, are huddled next to century old churches, or are surrounded by sweeping lawns. Spend an afternoon visiting a collection of cellar door outlets, taking time to try the wines, read the stories and experience the winemaking processes. It is not uncommon for a visitor to meet the winemaker first hand at many of the wineries, and learn how the wine was created.

Balaklava Mid North region South Australia

Balaklava vith a population of 1627 is set on the Wakefield River in an area dominated by traditional wheat and sheep farms. It sprang up as a stopping point between the Burra copper fields and Port Wakefield, but a grain merchant from Adelaide, Charles Fisher, soon turned the focus to agriculture. He built grain stores here before there was any sign of grain. This proved a canny move, as it lured farmers to the area. The town features old sandstone buildings and a 'silent cop', a curious keep-left sign in the middle of a roundabout.

Clare Mid North region South Australia

Clare vith a population of 3016 is known as the 'Garden of the North'. In the mid-1800s, Edward John Eyre reported favourably on the area and pastoral settlement followed; the town came to be known as Clare after the county in Ireland. The land has proved as favourable as Eyre claimed and Clare continues to boast a rich agricultural industry, including the famous Clare Valley wine region. The first vines were planted by Jesuit priests at Sevenhill in 1851. The Sevenhill Cellars are still operated by Jesuit brothers and the monastery buildings, including the historic St Aloysius Church, are of special interest.

The Burra region, Population 976,  exploded into activity when copper was found by two shepherds in 1845. Settlements were established based on the miners' country of origin: Aberdeen for the Scottish, Hampton for the English, Redruth for the Cornish and Llwchwr for the Welsh. The combined settlement grew to be the second largest in South Australia, but the miners were fickle – with riches promised on the Victorian goldfields, they did not stay for long. In 1877 the Monster Mine closed. Luckily, Burra did not turn into a ghost town. Instead, the rich heritage of its past has been carefully preserved by the community, resulting in the town being declared a State Heritage Area in 1993. Burra is in the Bald Hill Ranges, named for the 'naked' hills around the town.

Jamestown, Population 1408,  survived the demise of wheat crops in the late 1800s to become an important service town to the thriving agricultural farmlands of the Clare Valley. John Bristow Hughes took up the first pastoral lease in 1841 and the strength of stud sheep and cattle farms, cereals, dairy produce and timber grew rapidly. A look at the names of towns in South Australia will reveal that the governors, politicians and surveyors of the day were bent on commemorating themselves or people they liked. Jamestown followed this trend, named after Sir James Fergusson, then state governor.

Peterborough Mid North region South Australia

Kapunda,  Population 2479, is between two wine districts – the Barossa Valley and the Clare Valley – but its history is very different. Copper was discovered here by Francis Dutton, a sheep farmer, in 1842. It was to be the highest-grade copper ore found in the world. Settlement followed, and Kapunda came into existence as Australia's first coppermining town. When the mines closed in 1878, Australia's 'cattle king' Sir Sidney Kidman moved in, eventually controlling 26 million hectares of land across Australia.

Peterborough, Population 1689,  is a town obsessed with the railway. Its very existence and growth can be claimed by that industry. In 1881 the line to Jamestown was opened and over the next few years the town became a key intersection between all the major South Australian towns. Locals boast about how, in a mammoth one-day effort, 105 trains travelled the Broken Hill to Port Pirie line. The rail passion continued even after many of the lines closed, and today each entrance to the town has a welcoming model steam train.