LOXTON, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

---

A service town for a large irrigated area that was the centre of the largest war service settlement scheme in South Australia.
Location: 255 km north east of Adelaide; 14 metres above sea level.
Origin of name: recalls William Charles Loxton, a boundary rider on Bookpurnong Station, who lived beside the river here in a pine and pug hut from 1878 to 1881. The town was named in 1907.
Brief history: Prior to the arrival of white settlers, it is believed that the Yuyu Aborigines occupied the district. The first Europeans were predominantly of German origin, and began arriving in the 1890s. After World War II the town was the centre of an extensive soldier resettlement scheme which offered small irrigated holdings to returned servicemen on which to grow grapes, citrus and stone fruits.
Natural features: Murray River; Kia Kia Nature Trail; Katarapko Game Reserve; Habels Bend; Moore's Forest (8 km north); Kapunda Island Conservation Park; Media Island Conservation Park; Rilli Island Conservation Park
Built features: wineries; Loxton Soldiers Memorial; Katarapko Game Reserve and Conservation Park; River Lock No. 4.
Heritage features: The School of Arts; Loxton Historical Village; historic Peppercorn Tree planted in 1878 by William Charles Loxton.