Edithburgh - Edithburgh
Edithburgh is a delightful holiday destination just 233 kilometres from Adelaide with a population of around 450. Once the third busiest port in South Australia, today it is a popular tourist and fishing village, making it the perfect place for a family holiday. There are nearly 200 hundred lakes most of which are salt, in the Edithburgh area, it is no wonder that this town was once a major salt provider to South Australia.
Established in 1869, Edithburgh is Southern Yorke Peninsula's oldest town. Edithburgh is named after Governor Sir James Fergusson's wife Edith and the two main roads after his daughters Edith and Blanche. The town was laid out with terraces and parklands allowing for a beautiful environment. The Jetty was built in 1873 and salt, gypsum and lime were shipped off to Adelaide. Salt was one of the major industries of this town; prior to 1891, 7,000 tonnes of salt were provided to South Australia by scrapings. Between 1891 and 1900 they were supplying over 40,000 tonnes per year and a number of salt factories. By 1950 this business had ceased.
Edithburgh and Troubridge Island are home to a number of shipwrecks, one of the worst being the 'Clan Ranald' where close to 40 lives were lost. Their graves can now be found in the cemetery.
Nowadays the town is known as being an excellent location for the keen fishermen with mullet, yellow fin, whiting and larger fish. Fishing is available off both jetty, beaches - try Sultana Point Beach, great for those with kids - and boat with an all weather boat ramp.
Edithburgh is the perfect place to take the family for a holiday, with great swimming beaches and a tidal swimming pool with a shallow area for kids. The sandy beaches are perfect for fishing, swimming, scuba diving or snorkelling and sail boarding. Why not have a picnic or BBQ on the foreshore or enjoy one of the many walks ranging from historical to scenic and coastal.
A short drive from Edithburgh, south-east along Sheoak Beach Road, is the Wattle Point Wind Farm. A newly constructed viewing area allows visitors to stand right underneath one of these amazing 68m high structures, and learn about how they capture nature's renewable resource.
