| Peterborough or Petersburg as it was known until 1917 was settled to service the agricultural and pastoral endeavours of the 1870s. Mr William Heathersay was the first person to start a business venture, when in 1878 he built a blacksmith shop. Several other ventures by other people soon followed. There are two theories as to how the town got its name. One is that it was named Mr Peter Doecke, the original owner of the land on which the town is built. The other, that it was named after 'Peters Store' the first general store in the town. The Railways an Industry which would provide the lifeblood of the town for the next 110 years officially arrived in the town on January 17, 1881 when the line from Jamestown opened. The Terowie line opened shortly after and the line to Broken Hill was opened in 1887 thus ensuring the future of the town, this meant that Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Adelaide and the Silverton Mines were all connected by rail tracks that passed through Peterborough. The town would forge ahead in leaps and bounds with the railways playing a major part in the development. In 1927 the workforce of the Peterborough Division of the S.A. Railways was 1800 with two thirds of the workers living in the town. Major works were carried out in this era, they included the Railway Roundhouse "largest in the southern hemisphere", Town Hall "largest in rural S.A." and the imposing YMCA building. Peterborough played a major part in the movement of troops during the Second World War with troop trains moving North, South, East and West. The majesty and beauty of the great steam era of the railways has been preserved by the Steamtown Railway Preservation Society which is based in Peterborough. The Society runs train trips to Orroroo and Eurelia on most long weekends. The towns geographical position is ideal to catch the tourist trade as it allows access to all areas of the state - to the North are the Flinders Ranges - to the North West are the Iron Triangle cities of Port Pirie, Valley and the historic town of Burra whilst to the east is Broken Hill.  Rotunda & War Memorial | |
