Minnipa, South Australia

Minnipa South Australia
Minnipa
Coordinates	32°51′S 135°09′E / 32.850°S 135.150°E / -32.850; 135.150Coordinates: 32°51′S 135°09′E / 32.850°S 135.150°E / -32.850; 135.150
Population	253 (2006 census)[1]
Established	1915[2]
Postcode(s)	5654[3]
Location	250 km (155 mi) from Port Lincoln
LGA(s)	Wudinna
State electorate(s)	Flinders
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 31.9 °C 89 °F 6.5 °C 44 °F 327.0 mm 12.9 in

Minnipa is a small town serving the local grain growing community located on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. The area around the town was first settled in 1878 but it wasn't until the arrival of the railway line in 1913 that any kind of township developed. When the railway was opened to Minnipa on 5 May 1913, the town consisted of two tents.^[4] Development of the surrounding districts followed the railway, and accelerated after the opening of the water pipeline from the Tod River scheme in 1925. By 1960, Minnipa was the major railway centre between Cummins and Thevenard.^[4] Before the construction of the Tod River scheme and its network of pipelines, tanks were constructed at many locations to catch the runoff from the granite outcrops which are a feature of the landscape. The earliest of these were constructed at Minnipa Hill in 1914 by the South Australian Railways. These historic tanks were reconditioned in the 1990s and fitted with new roofs to provide a standby water supply for Minnipa.^[5]

The town was proclaimed in 1915 and subsequently it became a typical wheatbelt town servicing the surrounding area and providing the necessary grain handling and rail facilities to allow farmers fast access to Thevenard and Port Lincoln.^[2] Within the town are a number of grain silos that serve to store the local wheat crop. Adjacent to the silos is a disused railway siding which used to freight the grain crop to Port Lincoln, which is now done by road transport for export around the world.

The town has a rich rural life, boasting several churches, a general store, caravan park, pub, fodder store, vet clinic and other industry based companies. The town's rich sporting tradition includes swimming, Australian Rules football, Tennis and Netball. Table Tennis is also a favorite during the winter months.

The town is well placed, within an hour or two's drive from the west coast of Eyre Peninsula but still close enough for a day trip to the Gawler Ranges. It is located in the centre of a vast low-rainfall wheat belt, and the surrounding countryside is gently undulating but broken by numerous wind-shaped granite outcrops.^[4]

The 'wave' shapes and varied colours of the granite outcrops or bornhardts in the area, are quite outstanding and the view from their tops is well worth seeing. The shapes were formed by moisture-induced decomposition of the sub-surface granite when the ground level was much higher. Gradual erosion of the surface soil has left the granite outcrops exposed.^[5] Popular tourist destinations These granite outcrops were noted by Edward John Eyre, and a few years later the Government sponsored an expedition to map and record the native names of the outcrops, they were Tcharkulda, Yarwondutta, Minnipa, Chilpuddie and Pildappa. Fifteen km north of Minippa township is the standout Pildappa Rock whose incredible flowing forms rival the singular form of the better known Wave Rock in Western Australia.^[6]

Heritage listings

Minnipa has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Pildappa Road: Pildappa Rock ^[7]
• Yardea Road: Yarwondutta Rock and Quarry ^[8]
• Yardea Road: Yarwondutta Rock Tank ^[9]

References

"Climate Statistics for Australian Locations". Retrieved 2009-11-19.