Pekina

Pekina is a town and locality in the Mid North region of South Australia. The town is located in the District Council of Orroroo Carrieton local government area, 270 kilometres (170 mi) north of the state capital, Adelaide. At the 2006 census, Pekina and the surrounding area had a population of 172.[2] The name of the town is thought to derive from the Aboriginal word for "creek water".[5]

Pekina South Australia
Pekina
Coordinates	32°50′19″S 138°33′07″E[1]
Population	172 (2006 census)[2]
Established	20 May 1875 (town) 16 December 1999 (locality)[1][3]
Postcode(s)	5431
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
• Summer (DST)	ACST (UTC+10:30)
Location	270 km (168 mi) N of Adelaide 14 km (9 mi) S of Orroroo
LGA(s)	District Council of Orroroo Carrieton[1]
County	Dalhousie[1]
Parish	Yorke and Mid North[1]
State electorate(s)	Stuart
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Mean max temp[4] Mean min temp[4] Annual rainfall[4] 21.9 °C ^71 °F 7.4 °C ^45 °F 364.8 mm ^14.4 in
Localities around Pekina: Willowie Willowie Morchard Coomooroo Orroroo Willowie Booleroo Centre Pekina Orroroo Black Rock Tarcowie Booleroo Centre Tarcowie Tarcowie
Footnotes	Adjoining localities[1]

European settlement in the Pekina district began in earnest in 1846 when Price Maurice brought 3000 sheep to the district. The Pekina Station, "one of the most profitable sheep runs" in South Australia,[5] became a stopping-point for coaches on the run between Blinman and Burra. In 1871, Pekina Station was resumed and broken up for closer settlement.[6] The region was settled by German and especially Irish migrant farmers.[6] Problems with drought, rust and locusts in the 1880s meant the town grew slowly with only around 75 residents at the beginning of the 20th century.[6]

Pekina's Irish Roman Catholic heritage has seen the district nicknamed "Vatican Valley".[7]

The historic former Pekina Animal Pound is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.[8]

References

1. "Search results for 'Pekina, LOCB' with the following datasets selected - 'Suburbs and localities', 'Counties', 'Government Towns', 'Hundreds', 'Local Government Areas', 'SA Government Regions' and 'Gazetteer'". Location SA Map Viewer. South Australian Government. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Pekina (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
3. "GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES ACT 1991, Notice to Assign Boundaries and Names to Places (in the District Council of Orroroo/Carrieton)" (PDF), The South Australian Government Gazette: 3429, 16 December 1999, retrieved 4 March 2018
4. "Monthly climate statistics: Summary statistics Summary statistics YONGALA (nearest weather station)". Commonwealth of Australia , Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
5. "Pekina". South Australian place names. State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
6. "Pekina". South Australian History. Flinders Ranges History.
7. "Pekina". District Council of Orroroo Carrieton. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
8. "Former Pekina Animal Pound". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.

Further reading

• Mannion, John (1999). No place like Pekina : a story of survival. Pekina 125 Committee. ISBN 0-9598157-1-6.