Gladstone, South Australia

Gladstone South Australia
Gladstone Hotel
Gladstone Location in South Australia
Coordinates	33°16′S 138°21′E / 33.267°S 138.350°E / -33.267; 138.350Coordinates: 33°16′S 138°21′E / 33.267°S 138.350°E / -33.267; 138.350
Population	629 (2006 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	5473
Location	211 km (131 mi) N of Adelaide 38 km (24 mi) E of Port Pirie
LGA(s)	Northern Areas Council
State electorate(s)	Electoral district of Frome
Federal Division(s)	Division of Grey
Localities around Gladstone: Beetaloo Valley Laura Caltowie West Caltowie Gladstone West Bundaleer Huddleston Georgetown

Gladstone (formerly Booyoolie)^[2] is a small rural town in the Mid North of South Australia in the approach to the lower Flinders Ranges. At the 2006 census, Gladstone had a population of 629.^[1]

The town services the surrounding district with two pubs, three churches, a bank, Post Office and several shops and small businesses providing basic goods and services. The closest hospital is 11 km away in a neighbouring rural town, but doctors take appointments in the town’s medical clinic. There is a kindergarten (approximately 12 enrolments), state primary school (63), Catholic primary school (60) and a secondary school (approximately 205 students, drawn from the wider district).

Gladstone has sporting/social clubs providing for Aussie Rules football, netball, cricket, tennis, golf, lawn bowls, swimming (at the local outdoor pool) and soccer (newly formed for school-aged children), all seasonal. Sporting competitions occur between clubs from the neighbouring towns within a radius of about 75 km.

Wheat and sheep are the main farming produce of the region, but Gladstone has the largest inland grain storage facility in the Southern Hemisphere, storing wheat, barley, durum wheat, peas, faba beans and fiesta beans.

During World War II, the No 28 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot was established near Gladstone. It consisted of large tanks concealed under earthen mounds.^[3] The Gladstone depot was one of 31 fuel depots established across Australia in places that were remote from airfields and immune to naval attack.^[4]

The Anglican Diocese of Willochra is based in Gladstone, with the Registry (the Diocesan Office) housed in building in the main street. In addition the Bishop of Willochra lives in Bishop's House which is on the Main North Road.

Gladstone is also the home of Trend drinks, a local soft drink manufacturer, with a history dating back to 1876.

Heritage listings

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

• 42 Gladstone Street: National Australia Bank Building ^[5]
• 44 Gladstone Terrace: Savings Bank of South Australia Building ^[6]
• Ward Street: Old Gladstone Gaol ^[7]

Railways

Gladstone Railyard March 1986 showing all three rail gauges in use on the one track bed.

Gladstone is located on the main Crystal Brook-Broken Hill railway line, with branches going north and south.

Originally, all the lines were 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge narrow gauge railways. In 1927, the line south of Gladstone to Hamley Bridge was converted to 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge, making Gladstone a break-of-gauge junction.^[8]

In 1970, the line from Port Pirie to Broken Hill was converted to 4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm) standard gauge making Gladstone into a rare three-gauge break-of-gauge junction as the Wilmington railway line to the north remained an isolated narrow gauge line.^[9] In the 1980s, the broad and narrow gauge lines were closed, leaving Gladstone as a purely standard gauge station.

The station is still served by the weekly Indian Pacific, run by Great Southern Rail. It runs to Adelaide on Thursdays, and to Sydney on Tuesdays.

References