- Port Lincoln, South Australia
Infobox Australian Place | type = city
name = Port Lincoln
state =
caption =
pop = 13,044 (2006) [ [http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?locationLastSearchTerm=port+lincoln&locationSearchTerm=port+lincoln&newarea=UCL421800&submitbutton=View+QuickStats+%3E&mapdisplay=on&collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=UCL421800&geography=&method=Place+of+Usual+Residence&productlabel=&producttype=QuickStats&topic=&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&breadcrumb=PL&topholder=0&leftholder=0¤taction=104&action=401&textversion=false&subaction=1 Population 2006 Census] Australian Bureau of Statistics]
poprank =
density =
est =
postcode = 5606
area = 24.9
timezone =
utc = +9:30
timezone-dst =
utc-dst = +10:30
lga =City of Port Lincoln
stategov = Flinders
fedgov = Grey
dist1 = 280
location1 = Adelaide "(Direct)"
dist2 = 649
location2 = Adelaide viaPort Lincoln (postcode 5606) is a city in the
Australia n state ofSouth Australia . It is a coastal city situated on the Boston Bay at the southern extremity of theEyre Peninsula . It is the largest city in the West Coast region, and is located approximately 280 kilometres (straight line - 646km by road) from the capital cityAdelaide .History
The
Parnkalla people occupied the area prior to white settlement in 1836.British naval explorer
Matthew Flinders discovered the harbour in February 1802. Because of its particularly good harbour, he named it "Port" Lincoln rather than just Lincoln, where Flinders came from. It is thought that only the lack of a reliable nearbywater supply stopped Port Lincoln becoming the state capital of South Australia.Geography
Port Lincoln has a contrasting coastal landscape, ranging from sheltered waters and beaches, to surf beaches and rugged oceanic coastline.
Government
Port Lincoln and its suburbs comprise the
City of Port Lincoln local government area. Port Lincoln is in the stateelectoral district of Flinders and the federalDivision of Grey . Its mayor is Peter Davis.Economy
The economy is based on the huge grain-handling facilities (a total capacity of over 337,500
tonne s), the canning and fish processing works, lambs, wool and beef, andtuna farming for the Japanese market. [Tim Treadgold, [http://www.forbes.com/global/2006/0522/036_print.html The future is Fish: Japan's taste for tuna is creating millionaires in a tiny Australian town] " "Forbes Magazine", May 22, 2006] Home of Australia's largest commercialfishing fleet Fact|date=April 2008, Port Lincoln now has a thrivingaquaculture industry that farms the following species:tuna ,kingfish ,abalone ,mussel s,oyster s, and experimental farming inseahorse s andspiny lobster s. Before the advent of aquaculture, the main fishing was for SouthernBluefin tuna .Port Lincoln is the terminus of an isolated RailGauge|42
narrow gauge railway system to bring thewheat to port. Iron ore traffic may be added in the future, although this has been the topic of protest and debate in the community.Tourism
Tourism is becoming increasingly important, thanks to the scenic beauty and coastal locality. Ready access to bothSpencer Gulf and theGreat Australian Bight mark Port Lincoln out as a blue water playground foryachting ,scuba diving , shark cage diving andgame fishing . The city also functions as a regional centre for government administration, corporate services and commerce to Eyre Peninsula; however, many State Government functions are gradually being phased out as State Government becomes more centralised inAdelaide . During the past decade, housing demand has led to a boom in property development, both residential and commercial.Lincoln National Park ,Coffin Bay National Park andKellidie Bay Conservation Park are within easy driving distance.Transport
Rail
Port Lincoln is the port for the isolated narrow gauge Eyre Peninsular Railway.
There is also a subsidiary port at
Proper Bay which may be restored to use for iron ore traffic. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/06/2155809.htm Company defends Lincoln ore export plan - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) ] ]Notable people
Olympic
weightlifter Dean Lukin was a tuna fisherman who shot to fame as a weightlifter in the 1980s, then returned to run the family fishery business.Many
Australian rules football (AFL) players have come from Port Lincoln, includingGraham Johncock ,Peter Burgoyne ,Shaun Burgoyne andByron Pickett .Tony Santic , the owner ofMakybe Diva (the only horse to win theMelbourne Cup 3 times) is a tuna farmer in Port Lincoln. A life-sizedbronze statue of The Diva stands on the town's foreshore.Culture
The book "
Blue Fin " byColin Thiele was set in Port Lincoln, with the movie of the same name filmed in nearby Streaky Bay. Some of the shark scenes of "Jaws" andAnzac Cove scenes in "Gallipoli", were also filmed near Port Lincoln. Fact|date=July 2008"
Australian Survivor ", the Australian produced series of the US television series, "Survivor", was filmed atWhalers Way , south of Port Lincoln, in 2001."
Hearts Apart " byCaitlin Jones was written on a farm in Port Lincoln.Media
Port Lincoln has two local commercial radio stations, 89.9 Magic FM and 765 AM
5CC (the first local commercial station) broadcasting out of their Washington Street studio. It is also served byABC West Coast SA on 1485 AM which broadcasts out of the Civic Centre on Tasman Terrace. It's also served byTriple J andABC Radio National from Tumby Bay and satellite uplink fromMelbourne respectively.ABC News Radio is also available on 91.5FM. It also receives KIXFM 87.6.Port Lincoln has one local newspaper, the
Port Lincoln Times . The Port Lincoln Times is published on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is printed inWhyalla .Free to air TV stations available in Port Lincoln are ABC, SBS,
Southern Cross GTS/BKN (formerly Central Television) andSouthern Cross Ten . Also available isAustar pay TV.See also
*
Port Lincoln Airport
*Port Lincoln Prison External links
* [http://www.portlincoln.sa.gov.au City of Port Lincoln]
References
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/AS/5/Port_Lincoln.html FallingRain Map - elevation = 1m]
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