Melrose, South Australia

Melrose South Australia
Melrose Township with Mount Remarkable
Melrose
Population:	431 (2006 Census)[1]
Established:	1840
Postcode:	5483
Location:	265 km (165 mi) north of Adelaide
LGA:	District Council of Mount Remarkable
State District:	Stuart
Federal Division:	Grey

Melrose (32°49′S 138°11′E / 32.817°S 138.183°E / -32.817; 138.183) is the oldest town in the Flinders Ranges. It is in the shadow of Mount Remarkable, 265 km north of Adelaide. At the 2006 census, Melrose had a population of 431.^[1]

The first European explorer in the area was Edward John Eyre in 1840, closely followed by settlers coming to farm the area. Copper was discovered and mining started in 1846, but it was not economic, and ceased in 1851. The mine was opened again three more times, the latest closure was in 1917.

Today, Melrose is the base for visitors to the Mount Remarkable National Park and centre for the local farmers.

When it was opened in 1848, the police station in Melrose was the base of the largest police district in the world. A constable, two troopers and an Aboriginal tracker were responsible for an area extending to the Timor Sea.

In June Melrose is home to the Fat Tyre Festival, an off road bike celebration exploring local bike trails and crowding parades of freak bikes.

Notes and references

1. ^ ^{a b} Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Melrose (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC44136&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 4 October 2011. 

External links

• South Australian History - Melrose
• Fat Trye Festival