Cowell

Nestled on the eastern shore of Spencer Gulf on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, Cowell is a charming coastal town located approximately 111 km south of Port Augusta. The town serves as the main settlement in the Franklin Harbour district, a sheltered natural harbour that is almost completely landlocked, with only a narrow entrance connecting it to Spencer Gulf. This geographical feature creates ideal conditions for the town's thriving aquaculture industry, particularly its renowned Pacific oyster farms.

The area was traditionally inhabited by the Barngarla Aboriginal people before European settlement began in the 1850s. The town was officially proclaimed in 1880 and named after Sir John Cowell, a British Lieutenant-Governor. Cowell's landscape is characterised by a striking contrast between its serene coastline with calm, protected waters and the rugged Middleback Ranges that rise in the hinterland, containing significant deposits of jade, iron ore, and other minerals.

Cowell is internationally recognised for its jade deposits, discovered in 1965 by local farmer Harry Schiller in the nearby Minbrie Ranges. The "Cowell Jade Province" is one of the oldest and largest jade deposits in the world, with the rare black jade being particularly prized for its ability to take a high polish. The town's maritime heritage is equally significant, with Franklin Harbour providing safe anchorage for vessels since the early days of settlement.