Gladstone, South Australia

Gladstone is a small rural town in the Mid North of South Australia in the approach to the lower Flinders Ranges. At the 2006 census, Gladstone had a population of 629.The town services the surrounding district with two pubs, three churches, a bank, Post Office and several shops and small businesses providing basic goods and services. The closest hospital is 11 km away in a neighbouring rural town, but doctors take appointments in the town’s medical clinic. There is a kindergarten, state primary school, Catholic primary school and a secondary school .Gladstone has sporting/social clubs providing for Aussie Rules football, netball, cricket, tennis, golf, lawn bowls, swimming and soccer, all seasonal. Sporting competitions occur between clubs from the neighbouring towns within a radius of about 75 km.Wheat and sheep are the main farming produce of the region, but Gladstone has the largest inland grain storage facility in the Southern Hemisphere, storing wheat, barley, durum wheat, peas, faba beans and fiesta beans.The Anglican Diocese of Willochra is based in Gladstone, with the Registry housed in building in the main street. In addition the Bishop of Willochra lives in Bishop's House which is on the Main North Road.Gladstone is also the home of Trend drinks, a local soft drink manufacturer, with a history dating back to 1876.HistoryThe town of Gladstone was privately laid out by Matthew Moorhouse east of the railway line in October 1872 on Section 31, Hundred of Yangya. A government town named Booyoolie was laid out in March 1875 on the western side of the railway line in the Hundred of Booyoolie. In 1940, Booyoolie was renamed Gladstone to match the private town and railway station. The name Gladstone is derived from the prime minister of England, William Ewart Gladstone.