# Blinman > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Blinman > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Blinman.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blinman > Source revision: 1328850155 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2013}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Blinman | state = sa | image = Blinman.JPG |image_upright=0.8 | caption = Blinman's main street | coordinates = {{coord|31|05|37.1|S|138|40|41|E|display=inline,title}} | coord_ref = {{cite web|title=Search result for 'Blinman, Locb' with the following datasets selected - 'Suburbs and Localities', 'Counties', 'Government Towns', 'SA Government Regions', 'Gazetteer'and 'Local Government Areas'|url=http://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=roads&x=138.73712&y=-31.12345&z=13&uids=19,2,115,11,20,105&pinx=138.678780&piny=-31.092350&pinTitle=Location&pinText=Blinman,+Locb |website=Location SA Map Viewer|publisher=Government of South Australia|accessdate=9 January 2019}} | pop = | established = 1864 (Blinman)
1867 (Blinman North)
23 October 2003 (locality) | established_footnotes = {{cite web |last1=Weatherill |first1=Jay |title=GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES ACT 1991 Notice to Assign Names and Boundaries to Places |url=http://governmentgazette.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/public/documents/gazette/2003/October/2003_101.pdf |website=The South Australian Government Gazette |publisher=Government of South AustralIA |accessdate=14 April 2019 |pages=3859 |date=23 October 2003 |quote="Assign the names Yunta, Blinman, Bookabie, Glendambo, Yalata, Kingoonya, Olary, Innamincka, and Manna Hill to those areas Out of Councils and shown numbered 1 to 9 on Rack Plan 857 (Sheet 3)"}} | abolished = | gazetted = | postcode = 5730{{cite web|title= Postcode for Blinman, South Australia|url=https://postcodes-australia.com/areas/sa/country+south+australia/blinman |publisher=Postcodes Australia|accessdate=14 April 2019}} | elevation = 610 | elevation_footnotes = {{cite web|title=Search result for 'Blinman, GTWN' with the following datasets selected - 'Government Towns' and 'Gazetteer'|url=http://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=topographic&x=138.67985&y=-31.09255&z=17&uids=19,115,8,105&pinx=138.678780&piny=-31.092350&pinTitle=Location&pinText=Blinman,+Gtwn|website=Location SA Map Viewer|publisher=Government of South Australia|accessdate=16 April 2019|quote=Map shows contours at the site of the new Blinman}} | area = | area_footnotes = | timezone = [ACST](/source/UTC9%3A30) | utc = +9:30 | timezone-dst = [ACDT](/source/UTC10%3A30) | dist1 = 425 | dir1 = north | location1= [Adelaide](/source/Adelaide_city_centre) | dist2 = | dir2 = | location2 = | lga = [Pastoral Unincorporated Area](/source/Pastoral_Unincorporated_Area) | county = [Taunton](/source/County_of_Taunton) | region = [Far North](/source/Far_North_(South_Australia)) | stategov = [Stuart](/source/electoral_district_of_Stuart){{cite web|title=District of Stuart Background Profile (2014-2018 boundaries) |url=https://www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/component/edocman/2014-sa-country-map/download |publisher=Electoral Commission SA|accessdate=27 December 2017}} | fedgov = [Grey](/source/division_of_Grey){{cite web|title=Federal electoral division of Grey |url=http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/sa/files/2011/2011-aec-a4-map-sa-grey.pdf |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission|accessdate=27 December 2017}} | maxtemp = 26.4 | maxtemp_footnotes = {{cite web|title=Summary (climate) Summary statistics Leigh Creek Airport (nearest weather station)|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_017110.shtml |publisher=[Commonwealth of Australia](/source/Commonwealth_of_Australia), [Bureau of Meteorology](/source/Bureau_of_Meteorology)|accessdate=16 April 2019}} | mintemp = 12.8 | mintemp_footnotes = | rainfall = 223.9 | rainfall_footnotes = | near-n = [Oratunga Station](/source/Oratunga_Station%2C_South_Australia)
[Angorigina](/source/Angorigina%2C_South_Australia) | near-ne = [Angorigina](/source/Angorigina%2C_South_Australia) | near-e = [Angorigina](/source/Angorigina%2C_South_Australia) | near-se = [Angorigina](/source/Angorigina%2C_South_Australia) | near-s = [Gum Creek Station](/source/Gum_Creek_Station%2C_South_Australia)
[Angorigina](/source/Angorigina%2C_South_Australia) | near-sw = [Gum Creek Station](/source/Gum_Creek_Station%2C_South_Australia) | near-w = [Oratunga Station](/source/Oratunga_Station%2C_South_Australia)
[Alpana](/source/Alpana%2C_South_Australia) | near-nw = [Oratunga Station](/source/Oratunga_Station%2C_South_Australia) | near = Blinman | footnotes = Locations
Adjoining localities }} '''Blinman''' is a locality incorporating two towns in the Australian state of [South Australia](/source/South_Australia) within the [Flinders Ranges](/source/Flinders_Ranges) about {{convert|425|km}} north of the state capital of [Adelaide](/source/Adelaide_city_centre). It includes the highest surveyed town in South Australia, with a population in the {{CensusAU|2021}} of 43.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL40127|name=Blinman (Suburbs and Localities)|access-date={{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}|quick=on}} It serves as a base for large-acre pastoralists and tourism. Blinman is just north of the [Flinders Ranges National Park](/source/Flinders_Ranges_National_Park), {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=off}} north of [Wilpena Pound](/source/Wilpena_Pound). It is named after Robert Blinman, the shepherd who discovered its mineral resource. The two towns were Blinman and Blinman North until 1986, when Blinman was re-named Blinman South and Blinman North was re-named Blinman. ==History== Blinman is situated on the traditional lands of the [Adnyamathanha](/source/Adnyamathanha) tribe of [Indigenous Australians](/source/Indigenous_Australians), who were its custodians for thousands of years. One of their customs was burn-offs (controlled bushfires) to promote future plant growth. The first European settlement around what is now Blinman was [Angorichina](/source/Angorichina) Station, taken up for sheep farming in the 1850s. A shepherd employed by the station, Robert Blinman, discovered a copper outcrop on a hot December day in 1859. Blinman gambled some of his money on the presence of more underground copper and received a mineral licence in 1860. In 1861, Blinman and three friends, Alfred Frost, Joe Mole and Henry Alfred, received the surface lease for the land that became Blinman.[http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/blinman.htm Blinman ''South Australia History''] Accessed 9/1/07{{Failed verification|reason=Cannot find the website.|date=December 2023}} thumb|left|300px|The Blinman mine in 1871 Mining was successful in the first year, when the mine became known as ''Wheal Blinman''. The original four leaseholders sold their mine in 1862 for about 150 times their purchase price. The new owners were the ''[Yudnamutana](/source/Yudnamutana%2C_South_Australia) Copper Mining Company of South Australia'', which also owned a rich deposit north of Blinman. The mine was very successful during the 1860s and the site became permanent, with buildings being constructed and more miners moving to the area, some from the [Burra](/source/Burra%2C_South_Australia) mine. The biggest challenges at the time were the transport of ore and the finding of water. During the next 20 years, wells were sunk at regular intervals to refresh the animals hauling the ore. In 1881, construction of the [Central Australia Railway](/source/Central_Australia_Railway) reached [Parachilna](/source/Parachilna%2C_South_Australia), {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=off}} to the west of the mine, overcoming the tyranny of the {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=off}} journey over rough dirt tracks to [Port Augusta](/source/Port_Augusta). Family life was hard in the early days. Locally, water and firewood had to be brought long distances. This job was left to the women and their elder children while the men were working. Many pregnancies failed in the early years and several deaths were reported from "inflammation of the lungs". With the original tent settlement being very close to the mine, it was impossible to escape the fine dust generated. thumb|left|300px|Blinman's main street circa 1897 A hotel and post office were first opened in Blinman in 1863. In 1864, a government surveyor laid out 162 allotments about {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=off}} from the mine, following which it was named ''Blinman''. The population was about 1500 by 1868 and the first school opened that year. Substantial shops were built in the main street in 1869. The striking of regular water in the mine the same year secured a regular water supply for the town. Mining continued until 1918, when the ore ran out. The busiest time for the mine was 1913–1918, when the town population had grown to about 2000. The total ore removed from the mines was about 10,000 tonnes.[http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/SABlinman.shtml Walkabout - Blinman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051231125943/http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/SABlinman.shtml |date=31 December 2005 }}, Accessed 13 January 2007 ===Nomenclature of localities=== The locality of Blinman consists of land occupying the northern end of the cadastral unit of the [Hundred of Carr](/source/County_of_Taunton) and includes the government (ie, government-surveyed) towns of Blinman and Blinman South – surveyed in 1864 – which according to the official database,[https://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/ Location SA database] are still located about {{convert|2|km}} apart along the [Flinders Ranges Way](/source/Flinders_Ranges_Way). The government town of Blinman was surveyed in 1864 without an accompanying government proclamation.{{cite web |title=Search results for "Blinman, GTWN" with the following datasets selected - 'Suburbs and Localities', 'Government Towns', 'Hundreds' and 'Gazetteer' |url=http://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=roads&x=138.68066&y=-31.10957&z=13&uids=19,115,8,105&pinx=138.686030&piny=-31.108720&pinTitle=Location&pinText=Blinman,+Gtwn |website=Location SA Map Viewer |publisher=Government of South Australia |accessdate=16 April 2019}} The government town of Blinman North was surveyed in July 1867 on nearby land and also was not the subject of an official proclamation.{{cite web |title=Search results for "Blinman, GTWN" with the following datasets selected - 'Suburbs and Localities', 'Government Towns', 'Hundreds' and 'Gazetteer' |url=http://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=roads&x=138.72062&y=-31.10765&z=13&uids=19,115,8,105&pinx=138.678780&piny=-31.092350&pinTitle=Location&pinText=Blinman,+Gtwn|website=Location SA Map Viewer |publisher=Government of South Australia |quote=The is the new Blinman which was renamed in 1986|accessdate=16 April 2019}} In 1986, the former ''Blinman'' was renamed ''Blinman South'', and the former ''Blinman North'' was renamed ''Blinman''.{{cite web |last1=Abbott |first1=R.K. |title=Geographical Names Act, 1969-1982 |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/sa_gazette/1986/20/593.pdf |website=The South Australian Government Gazette |publisher=Government of South Australia |accessdate=16 April 2019 |page=593 |date=20 March 1986 |quote=the Geographical Names Board has recommended that the name of that town defined hereunder in The First Schedule be altered from Blinman to Blinman South and the name of that town defined hereunder in The Second Schedule be altered from Blinman North to Blinman}} In 2003, the [Government of South Australia](/source/Government_of_South_Australia) proclaimed the locality of Blinman, incorporating both towns within new boundaries. In 2013, additional land was added to the locality. ===Heritage-listed sites=== Blinman has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: * [Blinman Dome Diapir](/source/Blinman_Dome_Diapir){{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=80 | title=Blinman Dome Diapir (designated place of geological significance) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | accessdate=13 February 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216042023/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=80 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | url-status=dead }} * [Blinman Mine and Mine Manager's Cottage](/source/Blinman_Mine_and_Mine_Manager's_Cottage){{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=66 | title=Blinman Mine & Mine Manager's Cottage | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | accessdate=13 February 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216033623/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=66 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | url-status=dead }} * [Mine Road Dwelling and Dugout](/source/Mine_Road_Dwelling_and_Dugout).{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=31 | title=Dwelling and Dugout | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | accessdate=13 February 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216055942/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=31 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | url-status=dead }} == Attractions == Tourists travel to this area to enjoy the [Outback](/source/Outback) of South Australia and to see the ancient geology of the area. The town is close to [Brachina Gorge](/source/Brachina_Gorge) and [Parachilna Gorge](/source/Parachilna_Gorge). These two rarely have flowing water in them. Also nearby are the Blinman Pools. The town is a stop-off on the way to [Arkaroola](/source/Arkaroola%2C_South_Australia). The copper mine at one end of the town is a popular attraction.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} Blinman itself has a pub, [general store](/source/general_store), a church and a cafe/gallery. There are [tennis court](/source/tennis_court)s, a [golf course](/source/Golf) and a [cricket pitch](/source/cricket_pitch), though they see sporadic use. Fuel is not available in the town.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} ===''Cook Out Back'' festival=== Cook Out Back is a relaxed [campfire cooking](/source/Cooking_on_a_campfire) competition held over the [Labour Day](/source/Labour_Day) long weekend in October, involving a [roast](/source/Roasting) prepared using a [camp oven](/source/Dutch_oven) on a bed of coals. The event attracts more than 500 people to the town, who camp throughout the area. As the biggest event on the town's calendar, it brings significant tourist income.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} ==Governance== Blinman is located within the federal [division of Grey](/source/division_of_Grey), the state [electoral district of Stuart](/source/electoral_district_of_Stuart) and the [Pastoral Unincorporated Area](/source/Pastoral_Unincorporated_Area) of South Australia. As of 2019, the community within Blinman received [municipal services](/source/Municipality) from a South Australian government agency, the [Outback Communities Authority](/source/Outback_Communities_Authority).{{cite web|title=Blinman|url=https://oca.sa.gov.au/blinman |publisher=Outback Communities Authority|accessdate=15 April 2019}} The Aboriginal Regional Authority for the Blinman area is the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association.{{Cite web|url=http://www.statedevelopment.sa.gov.au/upload/aard/ara/ARA%20profile%20-%20ATLA.pdf?t=1488498706093|title=Department of State Development Press Release regarding Aboriginal Regional Authorities|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303124240/http://www.statedevelopment.sa.gov.au/upload/aard/ara/ARA%20profile%20-%20ATLA.pdf?t=1488498706093|archive-date=3 March 2017|url-status=dead}} ==Utilities== The water delivered by the local municipal water system is considered "non-drinking" water and is not considered suitable for drinking, food preparation, or cleaning teeth.{{cite web |title=Non-drinking water networks |website=SAWater |url=https://www.sawater.com.au/water-and-the-environment/how-we-deliver-your-water-services/using-non-drinking-water |access-date=2 March 2025}} ==In popular culture== * In the 2011 novel ''Angorichina'', the character of Heath Denbow came from, and was buried at, Blinman.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} * Blinman was the setting for Fleur McDonald’s novel ''Indigo Storm'' in 2016.{{Citation |author1=McDonald, Fleur |title=Indigo Storm / Fleur McDonald |year=2016 |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn7011409 |access-date=22 December 2025 |publisher=Arena Books, an imprint of Allen & Unwin |language=English |isbn=1760112615 |via=National Library of Australia}} ==See also== * [Brachina meteorite](/source/Brachina_meteorite) (1974) * [Central Australia Railway](/source/Central_Australia_Railway) (stopping place at Brachina) ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Blinman, South Australia}} *[http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/pn/b/b19.htm#blinman Manning index of placenames] {{OACDT}} {{authority control}} Category:Mining towns in South Australia Category:Flinders Ranges Category:Far North (South Australia) Category:Places in the unincorporated areas of South Australia --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Blinman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blinman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blinman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.