Coonalpyn is a town and a locality in the Australian state of
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
located about south-east of the state capital of
Adelaide
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
and about south-east of the municipal seat in
Tailem Bend
Tailem Bend (locally, "Tailem") is a rural town in South Australia, south-east of the state capital of Adelaide. It is located on the lower reaches of the River Murray, near where the river flows into Lake Alexandrina. It is linear in layout s ...
. It is situated in the local government area of
the Coorong District Council
Coorong District Council is a local government area in South Australia located between the River Murray and the Limestone Coast region. The district cover mostly rural areas with small townships, as well as part of the Coorong National Park.
...
and is in the State electoratal district of
MacKillop and the Federal division of
Barker.
At the
2016 census, the locality had a population of 353 of which 195 lived in its town centre.
[
]
Origin of the name
This town's name is derived from the Aboriginal word ''Coonalpyn'', meaning ''Barren Woman''. ''Coonalpyn Downs'' was chosen by John Barton Hack
John Barton Hack (2 July 1805 – 4 October 1884) was an early settler in South Australia; a prominent farmer, businessman and public figure. He lost his fortune in the financial crisis of 1840 and despite his best efforts, never regained anything ...
to name the property and the railway station within this property.
History
The town of Coonalpyn was proclaimed on 25 November 1909.
In 1927, the Congregational Church in Coonalpyn erected its church building, and is now the Coonalpyn Uniting Church.
Coonalpyn was originally known as part of the Ninety Mile Desert
The Ninety Mile Desert is an area in the Australian state of South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a tota ...
, until in approximately 1949 when the land was developed by the AMP Society
AMP is a financial services company in Australia and New Zealand providing superannuation and investment products, financial advice, and banking products (through AMP Banking) including home loans and savings accounts. Its headquarters is in Sy ...
.
The town became the seat for the District Council of Coonalpyn Downs
The District Council of Coonalpyn Downs was a local government area in the Australian state of South Australia that existed from 1957 to 1997 on land in the state’s south-east.
It was established on 30 May 1957 with its seat being located i ...
which was established on 30 May 1957.
Electricity came to Coonalpyn through ETSA
The Electricity Trust of South Australia (ETSA) was the South Australian Government-owned monopoly vertically integrated electricity provider from 1946 until its privatisation in 1999.
Precursors Early days (1882–1900)
Charles Todd, an e ...
in 1962 and the Tailem Bend–Keith pipeline
The Tailem Bend–Keith pipeline provides treated water drawn from the Murray River to communities in the Upper South East region of South Australia. It extends from Tailem Bend southeast to Keith. It runs roughly parallel to both the Dukes High ...
was constructed in 1968.
In 1997, the District Council of Coonalpyn Downs amalgamated with the Peake District Council and Meningie District Council to form The Coorong District Council
Coorong District Council is a local government area in South Australia located between the River Murray and the Limestone Coast region. The district cover mostly rural areas with small townships, as well as part of the Coorong National Park.
...
.
Boundaries for the locality of Coonalpyn were created on 24 August 2000.[
]
Lutheran History of the Area
A group of Lutheran Settlers moved to the Coonalpyn District in the early 1920s, the first congregation, Bethlehem Lutheran Congregation, being formed on 9 March 1930. A second congregation, Immanuel Lutheran Congregation, was formed on 28 July 1940. In 1952, the two congregations conjointly decided to erect a church and move out of the old town institute into the new Coonalpyn Lutheran Church
Coonalpyn Lutheran Church (also called Coonalpyn Redeemer Lutheran Church) is a Lutheran church in the Australian state of South Australia located in Coonalpyn. It is reported as being the largest church in the Coonalpyn Lutheran Parish whi ...
. The church was finished and dedicated in 1953. When Lutheran Amalgamation occurred in 1966, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia
The Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) is the major Lutheran denomination in Australia and New Zealand. It counts 540 congregations and 30,026 members according to official statistics. It was created from a merger of the Evangelical Lutheran Chu ...
(UELCA) & Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia
The Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) is the major Lutheran denomination in Australia and New Zealand. It counts 540 congregations and 30,026 members according to official statistics. It was created from a merger of the Evangelical Lutheran Ch ...
(ELCA) congregations merged to form the Redeemer Lutheran Congregation, and a new parish was formed which included congregations at Tintinara and Meningie.
Sporting Teams
In 1992, the Border-Downs Magpies and Tintinara Blues amalgamated to form the Border-Downs Tintinara Crows Football Club. The club was then a member of the River Murray Football League
The River Murray Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Murray Bridge region of South Australia, Australia. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League.
History
The competitio ...
, and in 2001 joined the Mallee Football League. This also includes the Crows Netball Club.
Coonalpyn also has a tennis club which belongs to the Border-Downs Tennis Association including towns such as Malinong, Culburra, Yumali, Coomandook
Coomandook is a settlement about east-south-east of Adelaide on Dukes Highway in South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of th ...
, Tintinara & Ki Ki
There is also an active lawn bowls club which has a series of "community bowls" nights during the summer months to encourage the community to come and try lawn bowls.
Photo gallery
Image:Coonalpyn entrance.JPG, Entrance to Coonalpyn, Adelaide end
Image:Coonalpyn Silo Art 004.jpg, Art on silos at Coonalpyn
Image:Coonalpyn silos.JPG, ABB silos in 2007 (prior to decoration)
Image:Coonalpyn hall.JPG, Town Hall/Institute
Image:Coonalpyn parkingbay.JPG, Parking bay rest area
Image:Coonalpyn station.JPG, Old Coonalpyn train station
Image:Coonalpyn pool.JPG, Community swimming pool
Image:Coonalpyn war.JPG, War Memorial
Image:Cynluthchurch3.jpg, Redeemer Lutheran Church
Image:Coonalpyn uniting.JPG, Uniting Church
Image:Coonalpyn bakery.JPG, Coonalpyn Bakery
Image:Coonalpyn pub.JPG, Coonalpyn Hotel
See also
* Tauragat Well
References
External links
Coonalpyn, South Australia
{{authority control
Towns in South Australia