Poochera, South Australia

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Poochera
state = South Australia


caption =
lga = District Council of Streaky Bay
postcode = 5655
est = 1920
pop = 60
elevation= 426
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov = Flinders
fedgov = Grey
dist1 = 60
dir1 = North East
location1= Streaky Bay

Poochera is a small grain belt town located 60km North West of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. The township of Poochera was not surveyed until 1920, and its name is thought to be taken from the name of King Poojeri, a local aboriginal who died in 1917. A nearby hill is also named Poochera, possibly stemming from the same origin.

The town had a school which opened in 1920, but closed its doors in 1976.

Poochera is the centrepoint of a large agricultural area, the town itself being a strategic grain exchange point for the region's farmers, who specialise in cereal crops and sheep.

The town is 53km away from the Gawler Ranges, and is commonly used as a stop off by tourists, who have access to a hotel and caravan park.

Poochera, however, is probably best noted for its nearby colonies of Dinosaur Ant ("Nothomyrmecia macrops"), a rare, primitive species of ant that has attracted entomologists and evolutionary biologists from around the world. Only one other colony near Penong, 180km away is known to exist.

Apart from the Poochera Hotel and Caravan Park, the town is served by a roadhouse where most general supplies can be purchased.

External links

* [http://www.streakybay.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=118 Council Page]
* [http://www.nullarbornet.com.au/towns/poochera.html Nullabornet Infopage]