Eudunda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids EudundaSouth Australia |
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Eudunda seen from the town lookout
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 Eudunda
Location in South Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 5374 | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Regional Council of Goyder | ||||||||||||||
| County | Eyre Light |
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| State electorate(s) | Stuart | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
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Eudunda is a town in the Mid North region of South Australia, situated 110 kilometres northeast of Adelaide in the Regional Council of Goyder. As of 2021, Eudunda had a population of 815 people. Eudunda is known as the birthplace of author and educator Colin Thiele.
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Etymology
The town name of Eudunda originates from the name of the spring to the west of the town, which local Aboriginal people called judandakawi. According to Dr. Phillip Clarke of the South Australian Museum, judandakawi means 'sheltered water.' The earliest-known written mention of the name Eudunda was published in The Express and Telegraph on 8 March 1872.
History
The earliest European activity in the district was overlanding, centred on Narcoota and the Narcoota Track in the late 1830s. Pastoralism soon followed, with expansive 'runs' being taken up for sheep grazing by men such as Lachlan McBean, Frederick Hansborough Dutton, and William Russell. Several decades then passed before closer settlement began. The founder of Eudunda was John Henry Hannan, who owned the land that was surveyed and divided for sale.
Railway
Railway services were first introduced to Eudunda in 1878, with the opening of the North-West Bend Railway to Morgan. From 1914, it was the junction station for a branch line running north past Point Pass to Robertstown. The Morgan railway line was cut back to Eudunda in November 1969. The Robertstown branch was closed in September 1991. The remaining line through Eudunda was closed in March 1994. The railway lines and yards have since been dismantled although the station building, and the old water tower remain today.
Demographics and Economy
According to the latest census data, Eudunda has a population of 815 people. The town exhibits a balanced gender distribution, with males accounting for 49.9% of the population, and females comprising 50.1%. The median age in Eudunda is 54 years. Eudunda has a total of 447 private dwellings, with an average of 2.1 people and 2 cars per household.
The town has residents born in Australia, England, Germany, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and New Zealand. 3.1% of the population identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. The town has a notable Lutheran community, comprising 24.2% of its residents who identify as Lutherans. This percentage is substantially higher compared to the state average of 2.4%, indicating the town's historical background.
Eudunda's unemployment rate is slightly lower than the state average, at 5.2%. The most common occupations in the town are managers, labourers, tradespeople, machinery operators and drivers, and clerical and administrative workers. The predominant industries in Eudunda include supermarkets, hospitals, farming, poultry processing, and building and other industrial cleaning services.
The median weekly household income of $921 is lower than the state average. However, the town has higher rates of home ownership compared to the state average, and the rent and mortgage repayments are lower as well.
Education
Eudunda is home to several educational institutions, including the Eudunda Community Preschool Centre, St John's Lutheran School, and Eudunda Area School. St John's Lutheran School has a long-standing history, established in 1904, while Eudunda Area School was founded in 1948.
Sports and Recreation
Eudunda has several sports clubs catering to various interests, some of which are hosted at Eudunda Sporting Club. Eudunda's sporting clubs include:
- Eudunda Basketball Club Incorporated - Light Amateur Basketball Association
- Eudunda Bowling Club - Barossa & Light Bowling Association
- Eudunda Golf Club
- Eudunda & Robertstown Cricket Club - Barossa & Light Cricket Association
- Eudunda Robertstown Netball Club - North Eastern Netball Association
- Eudunda Robertstown Football Club - North Eastern Football League
- Eudunda Tennis Club - Julia & Light Tennis Association
Eudunda also has a children's playground and community swimming pool.
Arts and Culture
The Eudunda Family Heritage Gallery is a volunteer-operated local history gallery that explores the heritage of the Eudunda region. Focusing on the pioneers and the broader history of the area from the 1840s onwards, visitors can access early cemetery records of Eudunda and the surrounding district, as well as a collection of local newspapers, photographs, and memorabilia related to churches, schools, sporting associations, and various local organisations.
A bronze sculpture of Colin Thiele by artist Chris Radford is located in Eudunda's Centenary Gardens.
In September 2021, artist Sam Brooks completed a 30-metre-tall mural on the Eudunda Silos, located in the former railway station precinct. The artwork portrays two children sharing stories about their past, culture, and local connections.
Trails
Eudunda is home to several walking and driving trails:
- Eudunda Historic Walking Tour is a walking trail exploring Eudunda's built heritage, encompassing its industrial, agricultural, and trade history, religious influences, and educational development.
- Eudunda Mosaic Art Trail is a walking trail that features a collection of mosaic art created by the local community.
- Colin Thiele Driving Trail is a car trail of important locations from the author's life in Eudunda.
- Lavender Federation Trail is a long-distance hiking trail that passes through Eudunda.
- World's End Driving Trail is a car trail from Eudunda to Burra, showcasing rural landscapes of hills, valleys, gorges, and lagoons.
Notable people
- Erhard F. Boehm, farmer and ornithologist
- Alexander Buchanan, stockman and early South Australia pioneer
- John Aloysius Chamberlain, sportsman
- Lance Duldig, cricketer
- Herbert Michael, politician
- Leslie Nicholson, politician
- Kane Richardson, cricketer
- Leslie Arthur Schubert, pastoralist and author
- Colin Thiele, author and educator
- Justin Westhoff, AFL footballer
Gallery
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Eudunda Bakery.
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The former Appelt's General Store, now the Eudunda Roadhouse. Located on South Terrace.
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St. John's Lutheran Church, Eudunda. Dedicated in 1980.
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The Eudunda office of the Regional Council of Goyder, formerly the office for the District Council of Eudunda.
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The Light Hotel, formerly the Royal Hotel.
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Part of Bruce Street, Eudunda, looking in a southerly direction.
