Port Wakefield

Port Wakefield is a forward-thinking coastal community located on the Adelaide Plains and is recognized as the first government town established north of Adelaide. This township, rich in colonial heritage, is situated at the head of the Gulf St Vincent, approximately 100 kilometers from Adelaide. With the growth of agriculture, mining, and later fishing industries in South Australia, Port Wakefield emerged as a central hub for these products. A port was constructed to support the increased output of commodities like ore from the Burra mines, as well as hay and wheat from local and nearby farmers. The town experienced steady growth and thrived on these developing industries until the railway system was introduced.

The region around Port Wakefield was first explored by Captain Matthew Flinders in March 1802, although it was already home to the Kaurna Tribe, whose territory extended from Cape Jervis in the south to Crystal Brook in the north, and across to Gawler and Myponga in the east. Originally named Port Henry, the town was renamed to its current title around 1849. It was initially developed as a port for a copper mine at Burra and later served pastoral produce. By 1878, a railway line connected Port Wakefield to Kadina on the Yorke Peninsula.

A significant milestone in local history was the establishment of the Australian Army's Port Wakefield Proof Range in 1926, which later became the primary site for testing munitions manufactured in Australia.