Spalding, South Australia

Summary

Spalding is a town located north of the Clare Valley in South Australia, Australia. At the 2016 census, Spalding had a population of 215.[3]

Spalding
South Australia
The former "District Council of Spalding" council chambers
Spalding is located in South Australia
Spalding
Spalding
Coordinates33°29′0″S 138°36′0″E / 33.48333°S 138.60000°E / -33.48333; 138.60000
Population194 (UCL 2021)[1]
Established1885 (district council proclaimed)[2]
Postcode(s)5454
Elevation309 m (1,014 ft)
LGA(s)Northern Areas Council
State electorate(s)Stuart
Federal division(s)Grey

It is mainly a farming community and also is home to a slate quarry.

Services in the town include a supermarket, hotel, school, gun supplies store, roadhouse, Country Fire Service station, South Australian State Emergency Service (SES) unit, dedicated post office and police station.

Spalding is presumed to be named after the market town of Spalding, Lincolnshire in the UK.[citation needed]

History edit

Prior to 1869, there were five sheep runs in the Spalding area: Bundaleer, Booborowie, Canowie, Hill River and Bungaree. From this date, the Spalding area was made available to farmers and a farming-centred community grew.[2]

On 30 July 1885, the District Council of Spalding was proclaimed; it remained until 1997, when it merged into the Northern Areas Council. In 1925 a post office was built in Spalding.[2]

Spalding was serviced by a broad gauge railway line through the Clare Valley from Adelaide from its construction in 1922 until the last train in 1978.[4]

The historic Spalding Railway Bridge over the Broughton River and Bundaleer Reservoir site are both listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.[5][6][7]

Features of interest edit

  • The Heysen Trail runs past Spalding, which is approximately the midpoint of the 1200 km walking route.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Spalding (urban centre and locality)". Australian Census 2021.  
  2. ^ a b c "Spalding". Spalding Management Committee. Retrieved 2009-06-24
  3. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Spalding (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 November 2021.  
  4. ^ "The declining years of the Clare Railway". Riesling Trail. The Wilson Vineyard. Retrieved 28 October 2006.
  5. ^ "Spalding Railway Bridge over the River Broughton [Concrete Arch]". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Bundaleer Reservoir Tower, Two Aqueducts, Three Weirs, Channel Systems and Reservoir Keeper's House". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Spalding, 5454". Location SA Map Viewer. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Heysen Trail: Southern Guide: Cape Jervis to Spalding". Government of South Australia – Department for Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 24 June 2009.