Keith, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Keith is a small farming town in the south-east of South Australia
. It is approximately 225 km from Adelaide
at the junction of the Dukes Highway
and the Riddoch Highway
. It is sometimes referred to as the 'lucerne
capital of Australia' due to the high number of lucerne growers in the region. At the 2006 census
, Keith had a population of 1,089.
in Scotland was called Keith Hall and he was also known as Earl of Kintore
. The Post Office opened around 1874 as Mount Monster and was renamed Keith in 1904.
In 1905 the general store was opened, and in 1907 the education department rented rooms out of the local institute to use as the school. 1910 saw the opening of Keith Hotel and the town's provisional school became a public school in 1912.
During the 1940s, the CSIRO
found prosperity in the area. With the addition of trace elements, the area became a very productive area. The AMP Society
funded the clearing of land to set up farming establishments. A Land Rover
sits a top a pole in a historical landmark in the town. In 1957, the local school was made into an area school to accommodate the influx of students.
Local artist James Darling designed the local water feature, which celebrates the cycle of water through the Australian landscape and the region's widespread water irrigation.
The local industry is predominantly grain production and livestock grazing. More recently, olive production has been gaining momentum around the area, with a large processing plant opening recently.
The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League
.
, the state electorate of MacKillop and the federal division of Barker
.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It is approximately 225 km from Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
at the junction of the Dukes Highway
Dukes Highway
The Dukes Highway is an important 189 kilometre highway corridor in South Australia which links the Australian cities of Adelaide and Melbourne. It is part of the National Highway system spanning Australia, and is signed as National Highway A8....
and the Riddoch Highway
Riddoch Highway
The Riddoch Highway in south-eastern South Australia branches from the Dukes Highway at Keith and travels south through Padthaway, Naracoorte, Penola, Nangwarry, Tarpeena, and Mount Gambier to Port MacDonnell and nearby Cape Northumberland....
. It is sometimes referred to as the 'lucerne
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
capital of Australia' due to the high number of lucerne growers in the region. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Keith had a population of 1,089.
History
A large granite outcrop outside the town called Mount Monster was a basis for the area's name until it was surveyed in 1884 and officially proclaimed Keith in 1889. It is believed that the town is named after the home town of the Governor of South Australia at the time, Lord Kintore. His home in AberdeenshireAberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
in Scotland was called Keith Hall and he was also known as Earl of Kintore
Earl of Kintore
Earl of Kintore is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1677 for Sir John Keith, third son of William Keith, 6th Earl Marischal . He was made Lord Keith of Inverurie and Keith Hall at the same time, also in the Peerage of Scotland...
. The Post Office opened around 1874 as Mount Monster and was renamed Keith in 1904.
In 1905 the general store was opened, and in 1907 the education department rented rooms out of the local institute to use as the school. 1910 saw the opening of Keith Hotel and the town's provisional school became a public school in 1912.
During the 1940s, the CSIRO
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
found prosperity in the area. With the addition of trace elements, the area became a very productive area. The AMP Society
AMP Limited
AMP Limited is an Australian financial corporation. It operates primarily in Australia and New Zealand. AMP formed in 1849 as the Australian Mutual Provident Society, a non-profit life insurance company. In 1998 it was demutualised and listed on the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges...
funded the clearing of land to set up farming establishments. A Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
sits a top a pole in a historical landmark in the town. In 1957, the local school was made into an area school to accommodate the influx of students.
Today
Several historical buildings still stand today, and many are still in use. The first school building built in the township is still in use by the school. The 1910 church still has its original lead light windows and is a common tourist attraction.Local artist James Darling designed the local water feature, which celebrates the cycle of water through the Australian landscape and the region's widespread water irrigation.
The local industry is predominantly grain production and livestock grazing. More recently, olive production has been gaining momentum around the area, with a large processing plant opening recently.
The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League
Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League
The Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia, Australia. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League...
.
Governance
Keith is in the Tatiara District CouncilTatiara District Council
Tatiara District Council is a local government area located in eastern South Australia, about 100 km north of the Limestone Coast. The name Tatiara is said to mean "the good country", a phrase which dates back to the area's first inhabitants. It is also one of the largest local government...
, the state electorate of MacKillop and the federal division of Barker
Division of Barker
The Division of Barker is an Australian Electoral Division in the south-east of South Australia.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Collet Barker, an early explorer of the region at the mouth of the Murray River...
.
Notable residents
- Andy CaldecottAndy CaldecottAndy Caldecott was an off road motorcycle racer born in Keith, South Australia. He won the Australian Safari Rally four times consecutively and was a competitor in the Dakar Rally in 2004 , 2005 , and 2006....
- Professional motorcycle rider who won four Australian Safari races, and competed in the Paris Dakar Rally in 2004 (DNF) and was placed 6th in the 2005 race. He died from a severe neck injury during the ninth stage of the Paris Dakar Rally in 2006. - Simon Cox - Professional Australian Rules Footballer, played AFL for the Hawthorn Hawks and Western Bulldogs.
- James Darling - Artist.
- Jack ReddenJack ReddenJack Redden is an Australian rules football player for the Brisbane Lions.Originally from Keith, South Australia, he is the brother of Tom Redden who was once on the Rookie List of the Adelaide Crows...
- Current professional AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
player for the Brisbane LionsBrisbane LionsThe Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996... - Leslie Harold Densley (14 Sep 1894-14 Nov 1974). Pioneering farmer of the Keith district and Member of the Legislative Council of South Australia from 1944 to 1967.