Terowie, South Australia

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Terowie
state = sa

---

caption = The railway station
lga = Regional Council of Goyder
postcode = 5421
est =
pop = 145
pop_footnotes=
elevation= 534
elevation_footnotes=
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov = Stuart
fedgov = Grey
dist1 = 220
dir1 = N
location1= Adelaide
dist2 = 103
dir2 = E
location2= Port Pirie
dist3 = 24
dir3 = SE
location3= Peterborough

Terowie is a small town convert|220|km|mi|0 north of Adelaide, in northern South Australia. The word "terowie" is an aboriginal word meaning "hidden waterhole". The town had originally been named "Shebbear" on August 9, 1877, by the South Australian government. This name was changed by Governor Barclay-Harvey to "Terowie" on November 20, 1941. At the 2006 census, Terowie had a population of 145.Census 2006 AUS|id=SSC45056|name=Terowie (State Suburb)|accessdate=2007-11-21|quick=on]

Terowie's main raison d'etre was to serve as a transshipment point at the railway break-of-gauge. The broad gauge line from Adelaide (via Burra) ended at Terowie, and a narrow gauge line continued 20 km on to Peterborough, where lines from Perth, Western Australia, Alice Springs, and Sydney met. The line was extended through in the 1970s, and Terowie went from a thriving township into decline ["The Railways and Terowie" Chambers, T.F. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, February, 1971 pp25-35] . The railway was closed and removed entirely in the early 1980s, however many relics remain.

The town was home to a busy staging camp during World War II, due to the break-of-gauge and the busy traffic on the major north-south-east line.

Terowie retains a number of authentic 1880s buildings, and has been declared a "historic town". Due to the significant history of the town, it remains a town of interest to those interested in rail history. While now a very small town with few facilities, these factors combine to make Terowie a destination for photographers, historians and rail buffs. The town is now in the Regional Council of Goyder.

The pioneering Hollywood filmmaker J.P. McGowan was born in Terowie in 1880.

On March 20, 1942, General Douglas MacArthur, made his famous speech at Terowie regarding the Battle of the Philippines, in which he said: "I came out of Bataan and I shall return". He made this speech while transferring trains.

References

External links

* [http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/terowie.htm South Australian history - Terowie]
* [http://www.walkabout.com.au/fairfax/locations/SATerowie.shtml Walkabout - Terowie]