Yorke Peninsula

With more than 600km of coastline including rugged cliffs, untamed wilderness, tranquil coves and wide sandy beaches, the Yorke Peninsula offers a unique blend of country and coastal living. All major centres are only a short 20 minute drive to the ocean. With such a coastal expanse it is no surprise that water activities play a major role in the leisure of tourists and residents. Whether it be surfing the waves of Pondalowie Bay, scuba diving under the Edithburgh jetty, fishing for salmon at Butlers Beach, sailing, and wind surfing off Port Vincent or just swimming and relaxing on one of the numerous white sandy beaches, there is something for everyone on Yorke Peninsula.

The Innes National Park covers an area of 9,100 hectares and is surrounded by rugged cliffs and some of the most beautiful, secluded sandy white beaches in Australia. The park has a diverse range of native flora and fauna and offers a range of activities such as bush walking and camping. You can explore the gypsum ghost town of Inneston, or indulge in your favourite water-based activities.

The northern Yorke Peninsula retains a strong Cornish influence and boasts the Kernewek Lowender, the largest Cornish festival in the world, as a biennial event. The mining heritage of Yorke Peninsula is well preserved with an abundance of tourist centres and historical sites including the Wheal Hughes copper mine, Kadina Heritage Museum and the Moonta Mines Museum.


	The Yorke Peninsula is a 'climate friendly' region with neither the extremes of cold nor heat. The average temperatures are: summer 28 C, autumn 22.4 C, winter 15.5 C and spring 21.3 C. The average rainfalls are: summer 17.7 mm, autumn 36.4 mm, winter 59.4 mm and spring 35.5 mm. Further specific details on climatic conditions can be obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology website on www.bom.gov.au

Kadina, situated 150 kms from Adelaide, is the largest of the towns on the Peninsula and is the gateway to the Copper Coast towns of Moonta & Wallaroo. The area is rich in mining heritage and a biennial Kernewek Lowender festival held in the 3 towns celebrates the history of the area.

The population of Kadina is around 4000. It is the main business centre for the whole of the YP. It boasts the largest Woolworths supermarket in SA and has regional offices for Government functions as well as the regional policing centre. Kadina also has very good shopping facilities which cater for all needs. Four major banks in the area have regional offices in Kadina and several credit unions have agencies.

The main office of the newspaper, the YP Country Times, is located in Kadina. it is the voice for the whole peninsula and one of the larger employers of the region.

Kadina has excellent education facilities, boasting pre, infant, primary & high schools and also a brand new TAFE centre. In addition to home child care facilities there is also a registered centre.

Excellent sporting facilities are abundant in Kadina with a multi purpose recreation centre being one of the features.

Kadina Medical Associates is located at 2 Mine St., Kadina and is the largest practice on the Peninsula. KMA currently has 7 doctors and 1 registrar in this practice, which is an accepted RACGP training provider. KMA operates branch practices at Wallaroo and Snowtown, as well as providing a visiting service to Bute. The facilities in this practice are excellent with the offices occupying the old hospital building. Operating rooms are utilised for minor procedures. While Kadina no longer has its own hospital the Regional Hospital at Wallaroo is only 5 minutes away, and is a very modern and well-equipped hospital, with 6 private and 21 public beds. A large array of visiting specialists and services means that most procedures are able to be carried out at the local hospital.

Dr Graham Morris is the managing associate and would be pleased to provide further information. Dr Morris can be reached by phone on 08 8821 3133.

The Clinic operates Monday to Friday from 8.30am 6.00pm and on Saturday mornings (for urgent appointments only) from 8.30am 11.30am.

Moonta, situated 165 kms from Adelaide, was the site of a large copper discovery in 1861 and was regarded as one of Australia's richest copper mining areas. The area is known as Australia's 'Little Cornwall'. During the boom mining years the population grew to around 12,000 people, but a drop in price of copper and depletion of reserves saw the miners move away, leaving a population of around 2,500. Today, Moonta's lifestyle and climate have discovered a new found popularity and the population has climbed to around 3,500. During peak season, the population increases to around 10,000.

The Cornish style cottages which were built in the town's early years are now greatly outnumbered by the throng of new houses. The size of the town has subsequently been vastly increased and now incorporates the smaller areas of Moonta Bay & Port Hughes. Many of the fine homes nearer the sea are holiday homes and are of outstanding quality.

As a seaside town, Moonta offers all water sports. It is a popular fishing spot, with plentiful catches of whiting, snapper & squid being common. Several commercial fishing boats are available for charter and are very popular with visitors.

As well as catering for the majority of sporting enthusiasts, Moonta is also a haven for antique hunters, having two very popular antique shops and hosting an antique and collectables fair annually.

Education in Moonta is provided by an area school which caters for children from reception to year 12, with pre school facilities being also available.

The mining heritage of the area is well preserved and the National Trust has an active branch in the Moonta Mines area. The old school has been converted to a museum well worthy of a visit to gain a feel for the 'good old days'. Old pump houses and preserved miner's cottages (in original state) give visitors the opportunity to see just what conditions were like in the early 1900's.

The town is well served with shopping facilities and anything not obtainable locally is only 15 minutes away in Kadina.

Moonta Medical Centre is situated under the same roof as the Moonta private hospital and is purpose built. There are currently 4 doctors working in the practice. The private hospital has 13 beds and is well utilised. Dr Benny Tang is the practice manager and would be pleased to provide any information to anyone considering availing themselves of Moonta's pleasant climate and lifestyle. He can be contacted on 08 8825 2309.

Surgery hours are 8.30am 5.30pm Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings from 8.30am 11.30am for urgent appointments.

Wallaroo is situated 159 kms from Adelaide, and 9 kms west of Kadina, and is one of South Australia's busiest ports. Cereal grain is received and stored at the CBH facility and exported to the world while superphosphate is imported to supply the local farming industry. Wallaroo was established in 1861and has a current permanent population of just over 2500.

Wallaroo has long been a popular tourist destination with its long shallow sandy beach, offering safe swimming. Fishing and crabbing can be enjoyed from the wharf. The jetty has a safe swimming enclosure that is well utilised during the summer months. It is also home to a sizeable prawn fleet that nets the majority of the State's prawn harvest. Like the other Copper Coast towns, Wallaroo has seen a recent increase in new housing with the Copper Cove Marina creating a mini property boom.

As a vibrant seaside town, Wallaroo, has 5 hotels and a very strong sporting ethic. Most sports are catered for in Wallaroo and the town now boasts a watered fairways golf course, which is open all year round.

Antique shops are also a feature of Wallaroo along with a National Trust heritage and nautical museum. Shoppers are well catered for although the close proximity to Kadina does inhibit development of a full range of facilities.

Wallaroo has a reception to year 7 primary school along with a Catholic private school. There are no high school facilities because of the proximity of Kadina.

The Wallaroo hospital is one of the best equipped rural hospitals in SA and the visiting specialists are able to complete most procedures without a trip to Adelaide.

Wallaroo has two different practices.

Wallaroo Surgeries is a private practice on Owen Terrace. It has 2 doctors on Mondays & Fridays, 1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and is open from 8.15am 6.00pm. 1 doctor is available on Thursday & Saturday mornings from 8.15am 11.30pm. Dr Daniel James would be pleased to provide any details you may require by phoning
08 8823 2002.

Wallaroo Hospital surgery is a branch practice of Kadina. Hours of business are 9am 4.30pm Monday, Tuesday & Thursday and 9am 12noon Wednesday & Friday. Details can be obtained from Dr Graham Morris on 08 8821 3133.

Maitland is 169 kms from Adelaide and is the geographic centre of the peninsula. It was proclaimed in 1872 and the farming land is recognised as being among the richest in Australia. The population of Maitland is around 1000 and unlike the other towns of the peninsula, it does not swell dramatically during holiday periods although it is the main commercial centre for nearby resort towns. Situated on a ridge the area boasts a rainfall higher than surrounding areas and it is recognised for its high quality and quantity yields.

Maitland itself has a very ordered layout with its streets structured in a grid pattern, similar to Adelaide. One feature of the town is the golf course, which has watered fairways, and completely surrounds the town. Like the rest of the peninsula, Maitland has much to offer sports enthusiasts with most sports catered for.

Although not located on the sea, Maitland is only a short drive from Port Victoria, which is famous for its whiting fishing, in a bay sheltered by Wardang Island. Port Victoria is a very popular tourist destination with many of the houses being holiday shacks.

Maitland has a small but busy commercial centre which caters for most needs and is also the main service centre for the Aboriginal settlement located at Point Pearce. The friendliness of the locals and the welcome they extend is typical of many smaller country towns. There is a fine area school at Maitland, catering for reception to year 12. A Lutheran school caters for reception to year 7.

Maitland hospital is well appointed and quite busy with 18 acute beds and 15 long stay beds. Maitland SA Ambulance is located in the same complex and provides a compact and efficient medical service. There are a growing number of specialists now visiting Maitland, which reduces the need for locals to travel for treatment.

Maitland is also served by two medical services.

Maitland Practice is a solo GP set up at present and is located at 50 Elizabeth Street. Dr Graham Talbot would be happy to provide details to any interested doctors and can be contacted on 08 8832 266.

Consulting times are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings by appointment.

Maitland Health Centre is a University practice with a current staffing level of 3 GP's, not all of whom work full time. The centre is housed under the same roof as the hospital and most procedures can be undertaken.

Consulting times are Monday to Friday 9am 5pm. Dr Jonathan Newbury would be happy to answer any queries on 08 8832 2185

Ardrossan is a pleasant seaside town situated on the eastern side of the peninsula and 149 kms from Adelaide and with a resident population of just over 1000. Ardrossan enjoys a lofty position on 25 metre cliffs from which Adelaide's lights can be clearly seen most nights.

Ardrossan was proclaimed in 1872 and is the third largest deep sea port in SA. Dolomite is mined nearby along with cereal grain from the rich Maitland and Arthurton regions and is shipped from the well appointed bulk handling facility. The nearby BHP lookout provides an exceptional view of the gulf.

The area is famous for its blue crabs, which can be caught in nets from the jetty, or by using rakes at low tide. Fishing is also popular from Ardrossan and the nearby townships of Point Clinton & Black Point.

The shopping centre for the town is compact but provides for most day to day needs, service is good old fashioned friendly country style. Ardrossan has a good area school with caters for children from reception to year 12.

Tourism is a strong contributor to the economy of Ardrossan, and like the rest of the seaside towns on the peninsula, the population increases in size dramatically during holiday periods, particularly in summer. The Zanoni shipwreck is regarded as one of the best dives in SA and divers from near and far make the trip (10kms SE) to experience the beauty and mystery of this once stately vessel.

Sporting enthusiasts are well catered for in Ardrossan and the golf club has recently begun watering fairways to provide for the summer golfers.

Ardrossan has a private hospital that has 17 beds and has encouraged several specialists to come to the area. Obstetrics has been reintroduced to nearby Maitland hospital and doctors wishing to retain these skills are able to do so via a 23km trip.

Ardrossan practice has 3 full time GP's and is situated at 11 Fourth St. Financial management of the practice is undertaken by the hospital and any information can be obtained by phoning 08 8837 3021.

Appointments are available Monday to Friday from 8.30am 5pm and Saturdays by appointment.

Minlaton is situated 197 kms from Adelaide in a traditional barley growing district. The permanent population is around 750 and swells during holiday season, with the nearby holiday spots of Parsons Beach & Port Rickaby utilising the town's commercial centre.

Minlaton is only a short drive from 3 of the 'bottom end's' premier retirement and holiday spots: Point Turton, Stansbury & Port Vincent. These three towns are well regarded for their fishing, tranquillity and relaxation.

Captain Harry Butler, the famous pioneer aviator, is honoured by a memorial in Minlaton's picturesque tree lined main street. The 'Red Devil' - his famous plane is on public view.

Art & craft lovers are catered for in Minlaton, with a homestead gallery and craft cooperative. Most sports are well catered for. As in all country centres, the locals are very parochial about the prowess of their local teams.

Minlaton Hospital was closed some time ago but a well equipped accident & emergency centre is now in place. A large nursing home utilises the old hospital building.

Minlaton has a large, modern area school catering for reception to year 12 students with many of the small surrounding towns sending their students to Minlaton by school bus.

Minlaton Medical Centre is a university practice with 3 full time GP's, one of whom is a Registrar. It is situated at 7 South Terrace, Minlaton. Minlaton Surgery also services the nearby townships of Port Vincent and Stansbury. Despite no longer having their own hospital, Minlaton is well served by visiting specialists who attend on a monthly basis. Dr Jonathan Newbury would be happy to respond to any queries by phoning the Department of General Practice at the Adelaide University on 08 8303 3454.

Consulting times at Minlaton are from
8.30am 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

Consulting times at Port Vincent are
Thursdays from 10am - 4.30pm.

Consulting times at Stansbury are
Wednesdays from 9.30am 12.30pm.

Yorketown is situated 230 kms from Adelaide. It is one of the oldest towns on the Peninsula and was first settled in 1846 and has a population of around 700. The large number of salt lakes in the area created a major salt harvesting industry that had a peak yield of 57,000 tonnes in 1918 and declined in the 1930's when the locals found they were unable to compete economically with other producers. Salt production was gradually replaced by agriculture, which is now the main industry for the area.

Yorketown is the gateway to the 'bottom end' with the beautiful tourist destinations of Marion Bay and the Innes National Park within easy travelling distance. Spectacular coastline, diving, surfing and fishing all help to make the area very popular with tourists.

Yorketown is the administrative centre for the SYP. It has a TAFE campus a large area school catering for reception to year 12. There is also a Catholic school which caters for reception to year 12 children.

Shoppers are well catered for in Yorketown, with two supermarkets, clothing and hardware stores and all other expected services. Friendliness is a way of life in Yorketown and the locals go out of their way to make you feel welcome.

Sports lovers are also well looked after with good class facilities available for most sports and a fiercely competitive nature exists amongst the local sporting teams. Previous sporting stars include the golfer, Norman Von Nida, who is the son of a local doctor from the early 1900's.

Yorketown Hospital is modern and well equipped and is the treatment centre for the whole of the 'bottom end'. It has 27 public beds. Visiting specialists add to the completeness of locally available medical treatment, making it unnecessary to travel to Adelaide for most procedures. Telemedicine facilities in Yorketown give local GP's the ability to address most situations.

Yorketown Medical Practice has 3 full time GP's who enjoy the lifestyle that Yorketown offers. The surgery is co-located with the hospital. Yorketown also services the nearby towns of Edithburgh and Warooka.

Dr George Kokar would be pleased to provide further information, he can be contacted on
08 8852 1002.

Yorketown consulting times are 8.30am 5pm Mondays to Fridays, and 8.30am 11.30am on Saturdays.

Edithburgh's consulting time is from 2pm 5pm on Wednesdays.

Warooka's consulting time is from 10am 11:30am on Fridays.

Stansbury's consulting time is 2:30pm - 4:30pm on Tuesdays.