Lochiel, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Lochiel is a small town located in the Mid North
of South Australia
125 km north of Adelaide
at 33°56′S 138°9′E. The town lies beside on the western edge of Lake Bumbunga
and at the eastern foot of the Hummocks Range
. Port Wakefield Road
, a section of Highway 1
running on a strip between the town and the Bumbunga salt lake.
The town administration now falls under the control of the Wakefield Regional Council
for local governance. This body came into effect on 1 July 1997 as a result of the amalgamation of the former District Council of Blyth-Snowtown and the former District Council of Wakefield Plains
. It covers a geographical area of 3,469 square kilometres with a population of 6,588 (estimated as at 30 June 2002 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics
). Lochiel lies in the state electoral district of Frome
and in the federal electoral division of Grey
.
, the Province of Bumbunga
, was located on a farm at Bumbunga
, near Lochiel, during the 1970s and 1980s.
has been mined at the nearby Lake Bumbunga
salt extraction works since 1912.
The Lochiel Coal Mine was operational a few kilometres east of the lake in the 1980s and 1990s.
Mid North
The Mid North is a region of South Australia, north of the Adelaide Plains, but not as far north as the Far North, or 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...
of South Australia
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...
125 km north of 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 33°56′S 138°9′E. The town lies beside on the western edge of Lake Bumbunga
Lake Bumbunga
Lake Bumbunga is a salt lake located in South Australia's Mid North near the towns of Lochiel and Bumbunga.According to anthropologist Norman Tindale the name was derives from the Parnpangka term for 'rain water lake'....
and at the eastern foot of the Hummocks Range
Hummocks Range
The Hummocks Range is a range of hills starting just north of the apex of Gulf St Vincent in South Australia near the settlements of South Hummocks and Kulpara...
. Port Wakefield Road
Port Wakefield Road
Port Wakefield Road is an important Australian highway. It connects Adelaide, the South Australian capital, to the Yorke Peninsula, Port Augusta, northern and western South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It is designated National Highway A1 and a part of the National Highway...
, a section of Highway 1
Highway 1 (Australia)
Australia's Highway 1 is a network of highways that circumnavigate the Australian continent, joining all mainland state capitals. At a total length of approximately it is the longest national highway in the world, longer than the Trans-Siberian Highway and the Trans-Canada Highway...
running on a strip between the town and the Bumbunga salt lake.
The town administration now falls under the control of the Wakefield Regional Council
Wakefield Regional Council
Wakefield Regional Council is a local government administrative body in South Australia.-Towns and communities:The Wakefield Regional Council includes the following townships located in the area:*Alma*Avon*Balaklava*Barabba Hill*Barunga*Barunga Gap...
for local governance. This body came into effect on 1 July 1997 as a result of the amalgamation of the former District Council of Blyth-Snowtown and the former District Council of Wakefield Plains
Wakefield Plains
The District Council of Wakefield Plains was a local government area in South Australia.It amalgamated with the former District Council of Blyth-Snowtown to form the Wakefield Regional Council with effect from 1 July 1997.-External links:*...
. It covers a geographical area of 3,469 square kilometres with a population of 6,588 (estimated as at 30 June 2002 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's national statistical agency. It was created as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 of the Constitution of Australia...
). Lochiel lies in the state electoral district of Frome
Electoral district of Frome
Frome is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after Edward Charles Frome, the third surveyor-general of South Australia. The electorate is based around the industrial city of Port Pirie and the agriculture areas of Clare and Gilbert...
and in the federal electoral division of Grey
Division of Grey
The Division of Grey is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir George Grey, who was Governor of South Australia 1841-45 ....
.
History
The secessionist micronationMicronation
Micronations, sometimes also referred to as model countries and new country projects, are entities that claim to be independent nations or states but which are not recognized by world governments or major international organizations...
, the Province of Bumbunga
Province of Bumbunga
The Province of Bumbunga was an Australian secessionist micronation located on a farm at Bumbunga near Snowtown and Lochiel, , South Australia during the 1970s and 1980s for approximately a decade....
, was located on a farm at Bumbunga
Bumbunga, South Australia
Bumbunga is a small town located in the Mid North of South Australia north of Adelaide at . It lies east of Lake Bumbunga.According to anthropologist Norman Tindale the name was derives from the Parnpangka term for 'rain water lake'....
, near Lochiel, during the 1970s and 1980s.
Economy
SaltSodium chloride
Sodium chloride, also known as salt, common salt, table salt or halite, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaCl. Sodium chloride is the salt most responsible for the salinity of the ocean and of the extracellular fluid of many multicellular organisms...
has been mined at the nearby Lake Bumbunga
Lake Bumbunga
Lake Bumbunga is a salt lake located in South Australia's Mid North near the towns of Lochiel and Bumbunga.According to anthropologist Norman Tindale the name was derives from the Parnpangka term for 'rain water lake'....
salt extraction works since 1912.
The Lochiel Coal Mine was operational a few kilometres east of the lake in the 1980s and 1990s.