The County of Kimberley is a cadastral entity in South Australia, east of the Flinders Ranges about 45 kilometres east of Peterborough. Governor proclamation came on 20 July 1871, naming it after John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, then British Secretary of State for the Colonies. Terowie is its principal town.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | South Australia |
| Region | Far North and Yorke and Mid North |
| Proclaimed | 20 July 1871 |
| Named after | John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley |
| Area | 3,590 km² |
| Principal town | Terowie |
| Local government areas today | District Council of Peterborough, Regional Council of Goyder, Pastoral Unincorporated Area |
Hundreds in Kimberley County
- Hundred of Gumbowie
- Hundred of Hardy
- Hundred of Ketchowla
- Hundred of Parnaroo
- Hundred of Terowie
- Hundred of Wonna
Towns and Localities Today
Terowie, in the county’s southwestern corner, is Kimberley County’s only substantial town, a former railway junction on the Crystal Brook–Broken Hill line. The six surveyed hundreds cover about 2,060 of the county’s 3,590 square kilometres; the eastern half is unincorporated pastoral land. The Barrier Highway crosses the county, and Pandappa and Pualco Range conservation parks lie within it.
Geography
Kimberley County is bordered by Herbert County to the north, Burra County to the south, Dalhousie County to the northwest and Victoria County to the southwest, with Young County to the southeast. It measures about 76 km west to east and 48 km north to south.
History
Kimberley County was proclaimed in 1871 as South Australia’s mid-north pastoral country was surveyed for settlement. It carries the name of John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, the British colonial secretary of the time, unrelated to Western Australia’s Kimberley region.
FAQ
Is Kimberley County still used?
Cadastral divisions like Kimberley County remain in South Australian land titles and property descriptions, but the county itself has no government or administrative function today.
What is the main town in Kimberley County?
Terowie, a former railway town in the county’s southwest corner.
Which council areas cover Kimberley County?
The District Council of Peterborough and Regional Council of Goyder; its eastern half is unincorporated.