Ungarra, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Ungarra is a small agricultural based town
located in the north eastern Eyre Peninsula
, South Australia
approximately 600 km from the state's capital, Adelaide
and around 80km north of Port Lincoln. At the 2006 census
, Ungarra had a population of 241.
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
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 current resides with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and it is a popular picnic location particularly in spring. 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 builds for many of these enterprises still stand, only the school(R-7) and one of the churches is still in operation 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 is also a vibrate livestock industries particularly sheep based.
The town has a number of facilities, including sporting
grounds and a primary school as well as a lawn bowl rink 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 quite for most the year spring into life in the November-December period each year
.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 completed in 2004.
A proposed 27km branchline connects Ungarra with the proposed iron ore port of Sheep Hill
which is 20km northeast of Tumby Bay.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
located in the north eastern Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by...
, 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...
approximately 600 km from the state's capital, 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 around 80km north of Port Lincoln. 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,...
, Ungarra had a population of 241.
The name 'Ungarra' is derived from a nearby waterhole
Depression (geology)
A depression in geology is a landform sunken or depressed below the surrounding area. Depressions may be formed by various mechanisms.Structural or tectonic related:...
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/MelaleucaMelaleuca
Melaleuca is a genus of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae known for its natural soothing and cleansing properties. There are well over 200 recognised species, most of which are endemic to Australia...
mix of native vegetation for the growing of Wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
. 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 current resides with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and it is a popular picnic location particularly in spring. On the southern entrance to the township, the stands the Pioneer Memorial Park, with an iconic old windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
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 builds for many of these enterprises still stand, only the school(R-7) and one of the churches is still in operation 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 is also a vibrate livestock industries particularly sheep based.
The town has a number of facilities, including sporting
Sporting
Sporting may refer to:*Sport, recreational games and play.It may also refer to a sporting club:*Sporting Clube de Portugal, a sports club from Lisbon, Portugal.*Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut, a sports club from Beirut, Lebanon.*A.O...
grounds and a primary school as well as a lawn bowl rink and soldier memorial hall. The town is part of a popular tourist drive that can be done from Tumby Bay
Tumby Bay, South Australia
Tumby Bay is a coastal town situated on the Spencer Gulf, on the eastern coast of Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, 45 km north of Port Lincoln...
, with no camping or accommodation
Lodging
Lodging is a type of residential accommodation. People who travel and stay away from home for more than a day need lodging for sleep, rest, safety, shelter from cold temperatures or rain, storage of luggage and access to common household functions.Lodgings may be self catering in which case no...
available within the town. Other conveniences include public toilets and payphone
Payphone
A payphone or pay phone is a public telephone, often located in a phone booth or a privacy hood, with pre-payment by inserting money , a credit or debit card, or a telephone card....
. The town also has clearly visible grain silos operated by Viterra
Viterra
Viterra Inc. is a leading global agri-business with extensive operations in Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. With a growing international presence that includes trading and marketing offices on four continents, Viterra delivers high quality nutritious food ingredients to more...
which while being quite 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 gauge Eyre Peninsula RailwayEyre Peninsula Railway
The Eyre Peninsula Railway is a railway on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. The system is isolated from the rest of the South Australian railway network.- Overview :The network consists of about 600km of route and carries mainly wheat and gypsum...
.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 completed in 2004.
A proposed 27km branchline connects Ungarra with the proposed iron ore port of Sheep Hill
Sheep Hill, South Australia
Sheep Hill is a proposed port in South Australia for the export of iron ore. The port would be built by Centrex Metals.- Transport :It is located about 20km northeast of Tumby Bay and would be served by a 27km narrow gauge branchline from Ungarra on the Eyre Peninsular Railway. The port would...
which is 20km northeast of Tumby Bay.