What is Port Augusta known for?
Port Augusta is a city at the head of Spencer Gulf in South Australia. It is known as the Crossroads of Australia, where major highways and railways to the north and west meet.
The city is about 300 kilometres north of Adelaide. The Stuart Highway to Darwin, the Eyre Highway to Perth and major routes to Sydney all pass through or near the city.
The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden, on the city's edge, showcases plants from Australia's dry regions.
History and energy
Port Augusta was once a busy port and later a centre for power generation. Its coal-fired power stations closed in 2016, and renewable energy projects have grown nearby.
The Pichi Richi Railway runs heritage trains between Port Augusta and Quorn.
The Flinders Ranges begin just to the east.
The city sits on the traditional lands of the Barngarla, Kokatha and Nukunu peoples, and its Wadlata Outback Centre tells the story of the region from ancient times to the present. Matthew Flinders Red Cliff Lookout gives views over the gulf and the ranges beyond.
Did You Know?
The Indian Pacific and The Ghan trains both pass through Port Augusta.