Oodnadatta, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Oodnadatta, South Australia
, is a small town surrounded by an area of 7800 square kilometres (3,011.6 sq mi) with cattle stations in arid pastoral rangelands close to the Simpson Desert
, 1011 km (628.2 mi) north of Adelaide
and 112 m above sea level. It can be reached by an unsealed road from Coober Pedy
or via the unsealed Oodnadatta Track
from Marree
to Marla
or from the north via Finke, Northern Territory ("Old Ghan Heritage Trail"). The name is derived from Arrernte utnadata, meaning "mulga
blossom".
The population was 229 in 1976 and 160 in 1986. The 2006 census reported a population of 277 (150 male, 127 female, including 103 indigenous Australians
).
explored the region in 1859. The route mapped by Stuart in his journeys of 1857 to 1862 was adopted as part of the Overland Telegraph Line
route. Oodnadatta became the terminus of the Great Northern Railway in 1890, and remained so until the line, which then became known as the Ghan, was extended to Alice Springs
in 1929. Oodnadatta busiest era was World War II
when Australian Army
and Air Force
set up local facilities to service troop trains and fighter aircraft en route to Darwin
. In 1981 the line was moved to the west, and Oodnadatta, formerly a government service centre and supply depot for surrounding pastoral properties, became a residential freehold town for Indigenous Australians
who, moving from cattle work, bought empty houses as railways workers left. Increasing tourist traffic along the Oodnadatta Track
and an emerging mining industry keep the village alive. The Aboriginal
school is the biggest employer.
(Köppen climate classification
BWh) and has also recorded the highest reliably measured maximum temperature in Australia: 50.7°C (123.3 F) on 2 January 1960. A higher temperature was recorded at Cloncurry
in 1889, however this has since been shown to have been recorded in a non-standard enclosure and likely to have been considerably cooler than first believed.
.
Oodnadatta is serviced twice weekly by the Coober Pedy Oodnadatta One Day Mail Run
. The OKA
mail truck also carries some general freight and passengers. Road trains bring weekly supplies of food and fuel etc from Adelaide. Royal Flying Doctor Service
and charter flights use the Oodnadatta Progress Associations' local all weather WW2 airstrip which houses an automatic weather station.
There is a museum in the old Ghan railway station, and a staffed Medical Centre.
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...
, is a small town surrounded by an area of 7800 square kilometres (3,011.6 sq mi) with cattle stations in arid pastoral rangelands close to the Simpson Desert
Simpson Desert
The Simpson Desert is a large area of dry, red sandy plain and dunes in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland in central Australia. It is the fourth largest Australian desert, with an area of 176,500 km² ....
, 1011 km (628.2 mi) 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...
and 112 m above sea level. It can be reached by an unsealed road from Coober Pedy
Coober Pedy, South Australia
Coober Pedy is a town in northern South Australia, 846 kilometres north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. According to the 2006 census, its population was 1,916 . The town is sometimes referred to as the "opal capital of the world" because of the quantity of precious opals that are mined there...
or via the unsealed Oodnadatta Track
Oodnadatta Track
The Oodnadatta Track , Australia is an unsealed 620 kilometre track between Marree and Marla via Oodnadatta in South Australia. It passes the southern lake of the Lake Eyre National Park....
from Marree
Marree, South Australia
Marree is a small town located in the north of South Australia. It lies North of Adelaide at the junction of the Oodnadatta Track and the Birdsville Track, above sea level. The area is the home of the Dieri people. At the 2006 census, Marree had a population of 70.The town was home to Australia's...
to Marla
Marla, South Australia
Marla is a small town on the Stuart highway in north-western South Australia. It is located near the Ghan railway line. At the 2006 census, Marla had a population of 72....
or from the north via Finke, Northern Territory ("Old Ghan Heritage Trail"). The name is derived from Arrernte utnadata, meaning "mulga
Mulga
Acacia aneura, commonly known as Mulga or True Mulga, is a shrub or small tree native to arid outback Australia of areas such as the Western Australian Mulga shrublands.-Description:...
blossom".
The population was 229 in 1976 and 160 in 1986. The 2006 census reported a population of 277 (150 male, 127 female, including 103 indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
).
History
John McDouall StuartJohn McDouall Stuart
John McDouall Stuart was one of the most accomplished and famous of all Australia's inland explorers. Stuart led the first successful expedition to traverse the Australian mainland from south to north and return, and the first to do so from a starting point in South Australia, achieving this...
explored the region in 1859. The route mapped by Stuart in his journeys of 1857 to 1862 was adopted as part of the Overland Telegraph Line
Australian Overland Telegraph Line
The Australian Overland Telegraph Line was a 3200 km telegraph line that connected Darwin with Port Augusta in South Australia. Completed in 1872 the Overland Telegraph Line allowed fast communication between Australia and the rest of the world. An additional section was added in 1877 with the...
route. Oodnadatta became the terminus of the Great Northern Railway in 1890, and remained so until the line, which then became known as the Ghan, was extended to Alice Springs
Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Alice Springs is the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Popularly known as "the Alice" or simply "Alice", Alice Springs is situated in the geographic centre of Australia near the southern border of the Northern Territory...
in 1929. Oodnadatta busiest era was World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
set up local facilities to service troop trains and fighter aircraft en route to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
. In 1981 the line was moved to the west, and Oodnadatta, formerly a government service centre and supply depot for surrounding pastoral properties, became a residential freehold town for Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
who, moving from cattle work, bought empty houses as railways workers left. Increasing tourist traffic along the Oodnadatta Track
Oodnadatta Track
The Oodnadatta Track , Australia is an unsealed 620 kilometre track between Marree and Marla via Oodnadatta in South Australia. It passes the southern lake of the Lake Eyre National Park....
and an emerging mining industry keep the village alive. The Aboriginal
Australian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
school is the biggest employer.
Climate
Oodnadatta has a desert climateDesert climate
A desert climate , also known as an arid climate, is a climate that does not meet the criteria to be classified as a polar climate, and in which precipitation is too low to sustain any vegetation at all, or at most a very scanty scrub.An area that features this climate usually experiences less than...
(Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BWh) and has also recorded the highest reliably measured maximum temperature in Australia: 50.7°C (123.3 F) on 2 January 1960. A higher temperature was recorded at Cloncurry
Cloncurry, Queensland
-Notable residents:*Writer Alexis Wright grew up in Cloncurry.*Association Footballer Kasey Wehrman was born in Cloncurry . He went on to play domestically and in Scandinavia. His achievements include winning a NSL Championship in 1996-1997 with the Brisbane Strikers and being capped several times...
in 1889, however this has since been shown to have been recorded in a non-standard enclosure and likely to have been considerably cooler than first believed.
Oodnadatta elsewhere
The name Oodnadatta has been used as a name for a crater on the planet MarsMars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
.
Life in Oodnadatta
The Pink Roadhouse (so-called because it is painted bright pink) is a focal point for the town, providing petrol, a general store, meals, post office facilities and canoe hire. Although they really have canoes (also painted bright pink), it is not clear where to use them in the surrounding area unless the local waterholes are recently filled.Oodnadatta is serviced twice weekly by the Coober Pedy Oodnadatta One Day Mail Run
Coober Pedy Oodnadatta One Day Mail Run
The Coober Pedy Oodnadatta One Day Mail Run is a 4WD mail service in the outback of South Australia.Twice a week, the OKA bus travels from Coober Pedy to William Creek to Oodnadatta and then back to Coober Pedy, all on unsealed roads. The road between William Creek and Oodnadatta is the famous...
. The OKA
OKA 4wd
OKA Australia is a Western Australian based 4wd manufacturer mainly supplying 4wd tour buses and trucks. OKA is based in Bibra Lake, where all OKAs are made. OKA's current holding company is Reymer Pty Ltd...
mail truck also carries some general freight and passengers. Road trains bring weekly supplies of food and fuel etc from Adelaide. Royal Flying Doctor Service
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is an emergency and primary health care service for those living in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia...
and charter flights use the Oodnadatta Progress Associations' local all weather WW2 airstrip which houses an automatic weather station.
There is a museum in the old Ghan railway station, and a staffed Medical Centre.
External links
- Tracking History to Oodnadatta by Roderick Eime
- Pink Roadhouse Iconic landmark of Oodnadatta
- Pacific Island Travel
- Oodnadatta Pioneer Cemetery with photos of headstones
- Coober Pedy Oodnadatta One Day Mail Run