Yorke and Mid North Region

The Yorke and Mid North region is renowned for its diversity and beauty ranging from superb rural panoramas to rugged coastal locations and culturally unique townships and settlements. The region extends across approximately 35,000 square kilometres and currently has a population of 74,249 people, representing almost a quarter of the regional population of South Australia.
The region extends across 420 kilometres north to south and 200km east to west. Rainfall averages vary from around 500mm per annum in the southern parts of the Yorke Peninsula and Southern Flinders Ranges to 200mm per annum across the Burra plains and western part of the region. Around 80 individual communities form the broader Yorke and Mid North region – aligning around the geographic sub-regions and popular tourism destinations known as the Southern Flinders Ranges, Clare Valley and Mid North and Yorke Peninsula.
The largest centre in the region is Port Pirie with a population of 14,281 people with the townships of Kadina (5,121), Moonta (4,244), Clare (3,984), and Wallaroo (3,704) forming the next distinctive tier of population concentration in the region. Towns such as Peterborough, Balaklava, Crystal Brook, Jamestown, Ardrossan, and Maitland are other recognised service hubs in the region, all with populations of between 1000 – 2000 people. The Indigenous population was 1.7 per cent, which just above the overall State average.
The Yorke and Mid North region has a diverse industry base, with the main industries on an employment basis being;
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing (29%)
- Healthcare and social assistance (23%)
- Retail trade (19%)
- Manufacturing (16%)
- Education and training (13%)
Emerging industries include mining and renewable energy production. The region’s traditional broad acre farming, viticulture and forestry base is now complemented by value-adding processing and finishing, an expanding services sector and emerging tourism markets. The region is also home to the largest integrated lead-zinc-silver smelter in the world (at Port Pirie) and has a strong industrial sector supporting local agri-business and mining operations.
Extractive industries are well established in the region (e.g. limestone, dolomite, gypsum) and the only food grade salt producer in Southern Australia is located at Price. Mineral and energy exploration is continuing, with a number of companies progressing to the start-up phase. Proximity to developing mining projects in the north and east of the state, and the region’s strong industrial base, has resulted in local businesses securing contracts associated with the mines and the commencement of feasibility projects associated with mineral processing within the region. There has also been a more intensive use of the wharf facilities located at Port Pirie.
Broad acre cropping and livestock production remain important employers and significant contributors to the regional and state economy, generating annual revenues of $460 million and $260 million respectively. The region has numerous educational facilities. There are currently 97 public and private schools that include Aboriginal, pre-school, primary and secondary campuses. In addition, there are 6 TAFE SA Regional campuses located in the towns of Port Pirie, Clare, Kadina, Jamestown, Peterborough and Yorketown.
Ready access to health services is also available within the region through 19 public hospitals and health service centres. The main health hub for the area is the Port Pirie Regional Health Service with other facilities located nearby. These services include accident and emergency, day and in-patient surgery, Aboriginal Health, obstetric services, community health and aged care services.
For more information on the Yorke and Mid North Region, including employment opportunities visit: here
