Kadina, South Australia
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The town of Kadina () is located on the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia 144 kilometres north-northwest of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It is one of the three Copper Triangle towns, historically famous for their shared copper mining industry. Together the three towns and surrounds are sometimes known as "Little Cornwall", for all the miners who emigrated from Cornwall, England to work in the Copper Mines in the late 19th century. Kadina is about 20 kilometres north-east of Moonta and 8 kilometres east of the port town of Wallaroo, however Kadina and Wallaroo are both growing to the point where they are expected to merge.
The population of Kadina is about 4000 and it is the largest town on the Yorke Peninsula. Kadina is considered to be the "administrative capital" of the Copper Triangle and Northern Yorke Peninsula. It is thought that the name Kadina is derived from "Kadiyinya", a (indigeneous) Narungga tribe word, meaning 'Lizard Plain'.
Kadina's suburbs are Kadina East, Wallaroo Mines, Jerusalem, Jericho, Matta Flat and Newtown.
Former South Australian Premier, John Olsen and former Australian rules footballer, Richard Champion, were born and raised in Kadina.
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[edit] History
The land that was to hold Kadina was surveyed in 1861 after Wallaroo Mines, a copper mine, was discovered by settlers who apparently saw wombats throwing copper to the surface. Exceptional amounts of copper were found in the following years. Copper was also found in large amounts at the nearby Matta mine. The discovery of copper attracted many highly experienced Cornish miners to Kadina. The population of Kadina increased to 20,000 by 1875, mostly composed of Cornish miners.
In 1872, Kadina became a municipality and in 1878, a train line opened, connecting Kadina to Wallaroo and Bute (also on the Yorke Peninsula). This rail line fell into disuse was closed down in 1989. Mining was completely stopped in 1938.
[edit] Geography and climate
Kadina exists in a semi-arid location, above Goyder's Line. Kadina is surrounded by mallee scrub. It is located 8 kilometres inland and 44 metres above sea level. Kadina has a dry mediterranean climate with seasonal temperatures a few degrees above Adelaide's temperatures. The average winter temperature is 15.4 °C and the average summer temperature is 30.5 °C. Average rainfall of Kadina is 388.8 millimetres. The weather patterns are similar to those of Adelaide.
Kadina's surrounds are used for growing barley and other crops such as legumes, canola, chickpeas and field peas. Barley from the region is considered to be some of the best in the world.
[edit] The Town Today
The town today consists of important historical colonial and federation buildings centring around Victoria Square. Kadina and its surrounds is experiencing some minor growth due to the Copper Cove housing development at Wallaroo.
Kadina also contains the Kadina Heritage Museum, Banking and Currency Museum and remnants of the old Wallaroo Mines. The popular Kernewek Lowender, a Cornish festival is held every odd year in May in Kadina (as well as Moonta and Wallaroo where each location holds the festival for one day).
The Lions Club of Yorke Peninsula Rail has recently started operating tourist services between Wallaroo, Kadina and Bute on some Sundays on the previously disused railway line.
The town is also the base for local radio station Gulf FM, broadcasting on 89.3, with its head studio recently moving into new premises just down from its original studio at the Kadina town hall.
[edit] Governance
The District Council of Copper Coast governs Kadina at the municipal level. Kadina lies in the state electoral district of Goyder and the federal electoral Division of Grey.
