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Leigh Creek

Towns

Unincorporated SA, 177 Rokeby Rd, Leigh Creek, SA 5731

Description

Leigh Creek is a former coal-mining town in eastern central South Australia.

Leigh Creek is a former coal-mining town in eastern central South Australia. At the 2016 census, Leigh Creek had a population of 245, a 55% decrease from 550 in the previous census in 2011.Situated to the west of the northern Flinders Ranges, the current town is 13 km further south than the original town—it was moved in 1982 to allow for the expansion of the mine.As a result, most facilities and buildings in the town are only a little over thirty years old, and with relatively modern designs.

The mine and associated railway station are named Telford.

History

The area was named Leigh's Creek after its first settler, Harry Leigh, in 1856. Coal was discovered and small quantities mined from 1888 from an underground mine. The town to support the mine at that time was called Copley, after William Copley, an MP and Commissioner of Crown Lands. However the coal was not mined in a significant commercial manner until 1943 in an effort to make South Australia more self-sufficient for its energy needs, with less dependence on New South Wales. The premier Thomas Playford saw the need to be seen not to rely on interstate energy if he was to attract business to South Australia.

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Details

Type: Towns

Population: 101-1000

Time zone: UTC +10:30

Area: 31.631 km2

Elevation: 201-500 metres

Town elevation: 256 m

Population number: 245

Local Government Area: Unincorporated SA

Location

Unincorporated SA, 177 Rokeby Rd, Leigh Creek, SA 5731

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Attribution

This article contains content imported from the English Wikipedia article on Leigh Creek, South Australia

Leigh Creek - Localista

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