Port Augusta

Port Augusta, known as the "Crossroads of Australia," is located at the top of Spencer Gulf in South Australia. Established in 1852 by Alexander Elder and John Grainger, it was named after Lady Augusta Sophia Young, the wife of then-Governor Sir Henry Edward Fox Young. The town developed rapidly as a significant port for exporting wool and other goods, especially during the mid-19th century. By the 1860s, it had become a key transport hub with a telegraph line connecting it to Adelaide and other regions.

Port Augusta's importance grew further with the establishment of railway connections, including the Central Australia Railway and the Trans-Australian Railway, which made it a crucial link for freight and passenger services across the continent. These railways transformed the town into a central point for inland exploration and trade​.

The area is also known for its cultural sites, such as the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden, which highlights the unique flora of the desert, and is the terminus of the heritage Pichi Richi Railway, based at Quorn in the Flinders Ranges.