Balaklava

A picturesque wheatbelt town nestled on the banks of the River Wakefield on the northern edge of the Adelaide Plains. The main local produce is grain and dairy cattle.

Where is it?: 92 km north of Adelaide; 26 km from Port Wakefield




Although it only experiences 391 mm rainfall per year, Balaklava is a quietly attractive town with rows of pine trees and green ovals and playing fields. In summer, when the rainfall drops to nearly zero and the temperature rises, the town is surrounded the dry landscape of the Mid North.

Around town:

Natural features: Devils Gardens Reserve (7km east); The Rocks Reserve (picnic area); River Wakefield.

Heritage features: Balaklava Folk Museum; Urlwin Park Agricultural Museum.

Origin of name: recalls a famous battle of the Crimean War. It was named in 1877.

Brief History:

The settlement here that grew into the town came into existence in 1849 as one of the many staging places on the route to the Burra copper fields. The town was established by Adelaide grain merchant, Charles Fisher, in 1870. Sheep and wheat farmers moved into the area soon after. Low grade coal deposits have been discovered in the district but have never been mined.

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