Iron Knob - Fast Facts

Iron Knob (including Iron Monarch and Iron Princess)
Famous iron ore mining town
Iron Knob is located 68 km west of Port Augusta, 52 km northwest of Whyalla and 152 metres above sea-level in the heart of a semi-desert area (the annual rainfall is rarely more than 200mm) near the shores of the Spencer Gulf. It is not a particularly attractive town but what it lacks in savoir faire it makes up for in genuine interest. In recent years, as BHP have run their mining operations down in the area (there are now only 70 men working the mines at Iron Knob and Iron Monarch), the town (which was once administered by BHP) has been handed back to the local residents and they have had to deal with the complexities of local government and the establishment of revenue raising activities so that local services can be maintained.