Edithburgh

In the Narangga language of the Indigenous Narungga people, Edithburgh was known by the place name Pararmarati.Tindale, Norman B., 1936. Notes on the Natives of Southern portion of Yorke Peninsula, S.A.. Proc. of Royal Soc. of Aust., vol 60., pp 55-70. Some sources give the pronunciation "Barram-marrat-tee".

The first European pioneers arrived in the 1840s and were sheep graziers and pastoralists. With closer settlement, in 1869 the Marine Board fixed a site for a jetty to service the developing farming district. An adjacent town was then surveyed, the layout closely emulating (on a smaller scale) that of Adelaide, with a belt of parklands. Edithburgh was named by Governor Sir James Fergusson after his wife Edith, who died in 1871. The new jetty opened in 1873.Collins, Neville: The Jetties of South Australia, (Adelaide 2010) {{ISBN|978 0 9580482 4 8}}

From 20 to 21 November 2019, at least 11 homes were destroyed or damaged by fires burning across the Yorke Peninsula. On 21 November, a stubble fire threatened Edithburgh, Coobowie and Wool Bay as it burnt towards the coast, fanned by strong south-westerly winds. At the height of the emergency, many residents of the area took shelter overnight in the Edithburgh Town Hall.{{cite web | last=Adams | first=Gabrielle | title=Entire South Australian town evacuated as bushfire rages | website=9News | date=21 November 2019 | url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/sa-fires-yorke-peninsula-edithburgh-yorketown-cfs-evacuated-bushfire-updates/643c1477-18c9-4a0c-a3db-8d167f390db5 | access-date=3 May 2021}}{{youTube|IhKWGhiSQ24|Edithburgh fire damage: South Australia: 7NEWS, 21 November 2019}}{{cite web | last=Siebert | first=Bension | title=Emergency services hailed as bushfire recovery begins | website=InDaily | date=22 November 2019 | url=https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2019/11/22/yorke-peninsula-bushfire-contained/ | access-date=3 May 2021}} There were no deaths, and it was found to have been caused by a power network fault.{{cite web | title=SA bushfire that damaged 11 properties caused by 'power network fault' | website=ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) | date=20 November 2019 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-21/sa-bushfire-destroys-home-as-yorketown-fire-burns-out-control/11723302 | access-date=3 May 2021}}

Edithburgh originally developed as a port for servicing the pastoralist pioneers. In the 1870s grain farming became a mainstay of the local economy, which it still is. At the turn of the 20th Century additional industries were established in the form of gypsum mining and salt refining. There are vast salt lakes in the area, from which salt was scraped and exported as far as Russia. Among those refineries was the Standard Salt Company, operated by C. T. McGlew. The jetty became a busy hub for exporting these commodities, as well as unloading supplies.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Nowadays the jetty is used mostly for recreational fishing and is a popular scuba diving site. There is also a small fishing and prawning fleet based there. The town is now overshadowed by the 55 wind turbines of the Wattle Point Wind Farm, located southwest of the town and opened in April 2005.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Occupying a commanding position on the coastline at semi-circular Salt Creek Bay, Edithburgh is noted for its magnificent seascapes which include steep rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. Troubridge Island can be seen offshore. As a result, tourism is now a growth industry. It is a popular holiday destination with a variety of accommodation types available including a caravan park. The Troubridge Hotel and the Edithburgh Hotel sit diagonally opposite each other at the intersection of Blanche and Edith Streets, both named after Governor Fergusson's daughters.

For those who prefer not to swim in the open sea, the town has a unique seawater swimming pool constructed at the shoreline. Its sheltered waters are refreshed with each rising tide.[http://www.countrygetaways.info/edithburgh "Edithburgh"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215032205/http://www.countrygetaways.info/edithburgh |date=15 December 2013 }} Country Getaways (accessed 2013-12-14)

[[File:Edithburgh_Jetty.JPG|left|thumb|276x276px|

Edithburgh Jetty, Gulf St Vincent, South Australia

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Edithburgh jetty is regarded as one of South Australia's best scuba diving sites.{{Cite journal|last=Hutchison|first=Stuart|date=2001-12-01|title=Travellin' South|journal=Australasia Scuba Diver|pages=18–30}} Access is easy thanks to steps on northern and southern sides of the structure.[http://www.benandcamera.com/diving/adelaide-south-australian-dive-sites/edithburgh/ "Edithburgh"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305001956/http://www.benandcamera.com/diving/adelaide-south-australian-dive-sites/edithburgh/ |date=5 March 2013 }} BenAndCamera.com

The jetty extends eastwards into Gulf St Vincent and is 170 m in length. The jetty is supported by pylons in groups of four. Divers and snorkellers can safely and closely observe dense, multi-coloured colonies of temperate corals and sponges on the jetty pylons. The pylons also provide refuges for various fish, crustacea, nudibranchs and other marine invertebrates.

Several of the state's iconic marine species can be seen beneath or near the jetty, including the Leafy sea dragon and the Striped pyjama squid.[http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/edithburgh-jetty "Diving Edithburgh Jetty"] Underwater Photography GuideWilliamson, Brett [http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2013/01/14/3669001.htm "Underwater treasures: Edithburgh jetty"] 891 ABC Adelaide, 14 January 2013. Accessed 2013-12-13.

The maximum dive depth is 10–12 m and site is rewarding for visitors of all experience levels.[http://www.southaustralia.com/info.aspx?id=9009195 "Edithburgh Jetty"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421224252/http://www.southaustralia.com/info.aspx?id=9009195 |date=21 April 2012 }} SouthAustralia.com

[[File:Edithburgh_Jetty_pylons.JPG|left|thumb|

Edithburgh Jetty pylon removal works, 8 December 2013

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In December 2013, maintenance works were conducted at the Edithburgh jetty by a contractor working for the local council. An estimated 50 jetty pylons were removed from the periphery of the jetty. They were either sawed off at the seabed, or pulled up from the substrate. This resulted in an immediate loss of habitat and marine life, upsetting many members of the scuba diving and marine conservation community.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-17/jetty-pylons-removal-edithburgh-angers-marine-dive-groups/5160986 "Pylons removal next to Edithburgh jetty angers marine and dive groups on Yorke Peninsula"] ABC News 2013-12-17.Robertson, Kim [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-17/dive-anger-over-jetty-work/5162834 "Dive anger over jetty work"] ABC News 2013-11-17.

Jetty pylons had been assessed some years prior by the State Government's Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (now known as the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure) and identified as a public liability risk. Impacts to the marine environment or the site's iconic status as a dive tourism hotspot do not appear to have been considered by DPTI or the local council.

Recreational divers from M.E. Dive Club witnessed the early works and arranged a group of divers to informally assess the damage the following weekend. The pylon removal works were not publicly advertised nor was the dive or tourism community consulted on the works. The Scuba Divers Federation of South Australia and the Marine Life Society of South Australia both responded to the issue by drafting letters to responsible Government bodies.Oldland, Jenny [http://www.ypct.com.au/index.php/news/91-news2/3674-pylon-removals-impact-marine-life "Pylon removals impact marine life"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103145207/http://www.ypct.com.au/index.php/news/91-news2/3674-pylon-removals-impact-marine-life |date=3 January 2014 }} Yorke Peninsula Country Times (17 December 2013). Retrieved 2014-01-03.

Image:Seahorse*.JPG|Seahorse beneath Edithburgh Jetty

Image:Pyjama squid.jpg|Striped Pyjama squid mating under Edithburgh jetty

Image:Crab *.jpg|Hermit crab beneath Edithburgh jetty

Image:Rock ling.jpg|Rock ling beneath Edithburgh jetty

Image:Edithburgh sunrise.jpg|Sunrise over the boat harbour

Image:edithburgh-coastline-sunset.jpg|Edithburgh coastline at sunset

Image:edithburgh-edith-street-sunset.jpg|Edith St at sunset, looking from the jetty

Image:edithburgh-jetty-dark.jpg|Edithburgh jetty at night

Image:edithburgh-jetty-sunset.jpg|Edithburgh jetty approaching sunset

• Jamie Tape - AFL footballer

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Edithburgh, elevation {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1993–2020 normals, extremes 1984–present)

|Jan record high C = 47.9

|Feb record high C = 43.6

|Mar record high C = 41.7

|Apr record high C = 37.9

|May record high C = 33.0

|Jun record high C = 24.7

|Jul record high C = 23.7

|Aug record high C = 29.7

|Sep record high C = 34.5

|Oct record high C = 38.2

|Nov record high C = 46.3

|Dec record high C = 47.0

|Jan record low C = 8.3

|Feb record low C = 7.8

|Mar record low C = 6.8

|Apr record low C = 4.2

|May record low C = 2.6

|Jun record low C = -0.5

|Jul record low C = 0.0

|Aug record low C = 0.8

|Sep record low C = 0.6

|Oct record low C = 0.5

|Nov record low C = 3.5

|Dec record low C = 5.3

|Jan high C = 25.5

|Feb high C = 25.1

|Mar high C = 23.6

|Apr high C = 21.3

|May high C = 18.5

|Jun high C = 15.9

|Jul high C = 15.1

|Aug high C = 15.8

|Sep high C = 17.8

|Oct high C = 20.5

|Nov high C = 22.7

|Dec high C = 24.1

| year high C = 20.5

|Jan low C = 16.8

|Feb low C = 17.1

|Mar low C = 15.7

|Apr low C = 13.1

|May low C = 10.8

|Jun low C = 8.8

|Jul low C = 7.4

|Aug low C = 7.3

|Sep low C = 8.6

|Oct low C = 10.8

|Nov low C = 13.3

|Dec low C = 14.9

| year low C = 12.1

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 13.4

|Feb precipitation mm = 18.8

|Mar precipitation mm = 16.6

|Apr precipitation mm = 25.4

|May precipitation mm = 44.9

|Jun precipitation mm = 54.6

|Jul precipitation mm = 48.3

|Aug precipitation mm = 47.2

|Sep precipitation mm = 44.1

|Oct precipitation mm = 28.1

|Nov precipitation mm = 17.6

|Dec precipitation mm = 15.7

|year precipitation mm = 375.2

| unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 4.2

| Feb precipitation days = 3.9

| Mar precipitation days = 5.3

| Apr precipitation days = 8.6

| May precipitation days = 13.8

| Jun precipitation days = 15.7

| Jul precipitation days = 17.2

| Aug precipitation days = 17.2

| Sep precipitation days = 14.1

| Oct precipitation days = 9.6

| Nov precipitation days = 6.9

| Dec precipitation days = 5.9

| year precipitation days =122.4

| humidity colour = green

|Jan afthumidity = 52

|Feb afthumidity = 53

|Mar afthumidity = 53

|Apr afthumidity = 54

|May afthumidity = 62

|Jun afthumidity = 67

|Jul afthumidity = 67

|Aug afthumidity = 64

|Sep afthumidity = 61

|Oct afthumidity = 55

|Nov afthumidity = 53

|Dec afthumidity = 49

|source 1 = Australian Bureau of Meteorology (humidity 1992–2010){{cite web

| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_022046_All.shtml

| title = Climate statistics for Australian locations- EDITHBURGH

| date = 2 March 2025}}

}}

• List of cities and towns in South Australia

;Notes

{{notelist}}

;Citations

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Edithburgh, South Australia}}

• {{wikivoyage inline|Edithburgh}}
• {{wikivoyage inline|Edithburgh Jetty}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070913163731/http://www.southaustralia.com/9005275.aspx Yorke Peninsula: Edithburgh]
• [https://divingadelaide.com.au/guided-dives/shore-diving/edithburgh-jetty/ Scuba Diving the Edithburgh Jetty from Diving Adelaide]

{{Yorke Peninsula |state=autocollapse}}

{{Yorke Peninsula Council localities |state=collapsed}}

{{Recreational dive sites|reesit}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Coastal towns in South Australia

Category:Gulf St Vincent

Category:Port cities in South Australia

Category:Underwater diving sites in Australia

Category:Fishing communities in Australia