Port Lincoln, South Australia

Infobox Australian Place | type = city
name = Port Lincoln
state =


caption =
pop = 13,044 (2006) [ [http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?locationLastSearchTerm=port+lincoln&locationSearchTerm=port+lincoln&newarea=UCL421800&submitbutton=View+QuickStats+%3E&mapdisplay=on&collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=UCL421800&geography=&method=Place+of+Usual+Residence&productlabel=&producttype=QuickStats&topic=&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&breadcrumb=PL&topholder=0&leftholder=0&currentaction=104&action=401&textversion=false&subaction=1 Population 2006 Census] Australian Bureau of Statistics]
poprank =
density =
est =
postcode = 5606
area = 24.9
timezone =
utc = +9:30
timezone-dst =
utc-dst = +10:30
lga = City of Port Lincoln
stategov = Flinders
fedgov = Grey
dist1 = 280
location1 = Adelaide "(Direct)"
dist2 = 649
location2 = Adelaide via

Port Lincoln (postcode 5606) is a city in the Australian state of South Australia. It is a coastal city situated on the Boston Bay at the southern extremity of the Eyre Peninsula. It is the largest city in the West Coast region, and is located approximately 280 kilometres (straight line - 646km by road) from the capital city Adelaide.

History

The Parnkalla people occupied the area prior to white settlement in 1836.

British naval explorer Matthew Flinders discovered the harbour in February 1802. Because of its particularly good harbour, he named it "Port" Lincoln rather than just Lincoln, where Flinders came from. It is thought that only the lack of a reliable nearby water supply stopped Port Lincoln becoming the state capital of South Australia.

Geography

Port Lincoln has a contrasting coastal landscape, ranging from sheltered waters and beaches, to surf beaches and rugged oceanic coastline.

Government

Port Lincoln and its suburbs comprise the City of Port Lincoln local government area. Port Lincoln is in the state electoral district of Flinders and the federal Division of Grey. Its mayor is Peter Davis.

Economy

The economy is based on the huge grain-handling facilities (a total capacity of over 337,500 tonnes), the canning and fish processing works, lambs, wool and beef, and tuna farming for the Japanese market. [Tim Treadgold, [http://www.forbes.com/global/2006/0522/036_print.html The future is Fish: Japan's taste for tuna is creating millionaires in a tiny Australian town] " "Forbes Magazine", May 22, 2006] Home of Australia's largest commercial fishing fleet Fact|date=April 2008, Port Lincoln now has a thriving aquaculture industry that farms the following species: tuna, kingfish, abalone, mussels, oysters, and experimental farming in seahorses and spiny lobsters. Before the advent of aquaculture, the main fishing was for Southern Bluefin tuna.

Port Lincoln is the terminus of an isolated RailGauge|42 narrow gauge railway system to bring the wheat to port. Iron ore traffic may be added in the future, although this has been the topic of protest and debate in the community.

Tourism

Tourism is becoming increasingly important, thanks to the scenic beauty and coastal locality. Ready access to both Spencer Gulf and the Great Australian Bight mark Port Lincoln out as a blue water playground for yachting, scuba diving, shark cage diving and game fishing. The city also functions as a regional centre for government administration, corporate services and commerce to Eyre Peninsula; however, many State Government functions are gradually being phased out as State Government becomes more centralised in Adelaide. During the past decade, housing demand has led to a boom in property development, both residential and commercial.

Lincoln National Park, Coffin Bay National Park and Kellidie Bay Conservation Park are within easy driving distance.

Transport

Rail

Port Lincoln is the port for the isolated narrow gauge Eyre Peninsular Railway.

There is also a subsidiary port at Proper Bay which may be restored to use for iron ore traffic. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/06/2155809.htm Company defends Lincoln ore export plan - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) ] ]

Notable people

Olympic weightlifter Dean Lukin was a tuna fisherman who shot to fame as a weightlifter in the 1980s, then returned to run the family fishery business.

Many Australian rules football (AFL) players have come from Port Lincoln, including Graham Johncock, Peter Burgoyne, Shaun Burgoyne and Byron Pickett.

Tony Santic, the owner of Makybe Diva (the only horse to win the Melbourne Cup 3 times) is a tuna farmer in Port Lincoln. A life-sized bronze statue of The Diva stands on the town's foreshore.

Culture

The book "Blue Fin" by Colin Thiele was set in Port Lincoln, with the movie of the same name filmed in nearby Streaky Bay. Some of the shark scenes of "Jaws" and Anzac Cove scenes in "Gallipoli", were also filmed near Port Lincoln. Fact|date=July 2008

"Australian Survivor", the Australian produced series of the US television series, "Survivor", was filmed at Whalers Way, south of Port Lincoln, in 2001.

"Hearts Apart" by Caitlin Jones was written on a farm in Port Lincoln.

Media

Port Lincoln has two local commercial radio stations, 89.9 Magic FM and 765 AM 5CC (the first local commercial station) broadcasting out of their Washington Street studio. It is also served by ABC West Coast SA on 1485 AM which broadcasts out of the Civic Centre on Tasman Terrace. It's also served by Triple J and ABC Radio National from Tumby Bay and satellite uplink from Melbourne respectively. ABC News Radio is also available on 91.5FM. It also receives KIXFM 87.6.

Port Lincoln has one local newspaper, the Port Lincoln Times. The Port Lincoln Times is published on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is printed in Whyalla.

Free to air TV stations available in Port Lincoln are ABC, SBS, Southern Cross GTS/BKN (formerly Central Television) and Southern Cross Ten. Also available is Austar pay TV.

See also

* Port Lincoln Airport
* Port Lincoln Prison

External links

* [http://www.portlincoln.sa.gov.au City of Port Lincoln]

References

* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/AS/5/Port_Lincoln.html FallingRain Map - elevation = 1m]