The memorial site, opposite Don Moseley Park, for the late Andy Caldecott. One of Keith’s favourite sons, winning four consecutive Australian Safaris and three stages of the Dakar Rally.
Keith Entry Marker
Keith, recognised as the Gateway to the South East and Limestone Coast, was proclaimed in 1889 with agriculture as its base. Climb to the top of Mount Monster when the crops are in flower, and you will soon see why the Keith district is the largest lucerne seed growing area in the southern hemisphere.
Andy Caldecott Memorial
KEITH RV FRIENDLY TOWN
ANDY CALDECOTT was an off road motorcycle racer born in Keith, South Australia. He won the Australian Safari Rally four consecutive times (2000–2003) and was a competitor in the Dakar Rally in 2004 (DNF), 2005 (6th), and 2006. During the 2006 Dakar Rally he won the third stage, but later died from a neck injury suffered when crashing during the ninth stage, 250 km into the 599 km special stage from Nouakchott to Kiffa. His was the 23rd death in the 28 years of the rally.
The local Motocross Track was renamed in his honour. Opposite Don Moseley Park is a Centurion Tank, lovingly restored by local volunteers. The Centurion Main Battle Tank became the standard battle tank for British and Commonwealth armies during the post- 1945 period. This tank was used in the Vietnam War.
Church has leadlight windows created by local artists depicting the history of Keith. Many of the local churches have magnificent leadlight windows. In 1950, the AMP Insurance Company funded the development of vast areas of bushland into farmland, resulting in a large period of growth for Keith. The AMP Memorial to this land development scheme consists of a Landrover on a Pole and one of the original Wiles huts lived in by families employed in the scheme. This is adjacent to the Dukes Highway at the Ellis Street corner. Local artist James Darling created the Keith water feature, titled “Circlework”. It is located in the Soldier’s Memorial Park on Heritage Street, which celebrates the cycle of water through the Australian landscape with particular reference to the region’s high water table and extensive irrigation industry.
In the early days, a railway siding was established on the Adelaide line near Mount Monster to serve the pastoral leases that had been taken up in the surrounding districts during the 1850’s. The Keith district typifies “real Australian countryside”. Today the township services a diverse agricultural area. Heritage Street, which parallels the Dukes Highway, features the Don Moseley Memorial Playground that includes a heritage style rotunda, a pleasant lawned picnic spot and a playground, where children can enjoy a ride on the mono-rail train. A perfect rest area for the whole family. Country Crafts and Coffee shops are also found along Heritage Street. Makin Street has two country bakeries to sustain the traveller. Historic buildings include the Early Settler’s Cottage (1894) on Emu Flat Road, the 1910 Church and the Old Manse , both in Heritage Street. The 1910
DID YOU KNOW?
The area between Tailem Bend and Keith was known as the 90 Mile Desert prior to the introduction of trace elements.
Don Moseley Park photographer Sarah Cunningham
James Darling Circlework by Sam Schrieber
16
17
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online