Leigh Creek
Leigh Creek – A Town in Transition
Leigh Creek is a town caught between its past and its future. Once a thriving coal mining hub, it now stands as a shadow of its former self. We stopped by to see how things had changed since the mine closed in 2015, which forced half the town to shut down with it.
Walking through Leigh Creek, it’s easy to see the impact. Entire streets sit empty. Schools, shops, and community facilities, once buzzing with life, now stand quiet. Yet, despite this, the town still has a core of residents who remain, determined to keep their community alive.
We visited the town centre, where the supermarket, fuel station, and a few businesses still operate. The community has worked hard to reinvent itself, focusing on tourism and as a base for travellers heading into the northern Flinders Ranges and beyond.
The old open-cut coal mine is a stark reminder of the town’s past. While it’s now off-limits, you can still catch a glimpse of its vast, manufactured landscape from the highway. It’s hard to imagine the scale of what was once South Australia’s primary coal source, supplying power to Port Augusta for decades.
One of the more surreal aspects of visiting Leigh Creek is seeing the infrastructure that has been left behind. Wide roads built for a much larger population, modern facilities, and a massive oval that barely sees a game played anymore. It’s a town in limbo, waiting for its next chapter. Out on the edge of town, you can still see the vast scars of the Leigh Creek Coalfield, closed now but visible from the highway. The scale is staggering, an artificial landscape of deep pits and layered earth, stark against the desert horizon. It’s both confronting and strangely beautiful, a monument to industry and impermanence.
Leigh Creek feels like a town in transition—part ghost town, part outback frontier. There’s still warmth here, and a stubborn optimism that the place will find new life. It’s a stop that leaves you relaxed, yet it prompts you to think about change, resilience, and how people adapt when the world moves on.
Despite everything, there’s still warmth here. The people we met spoke about their hopes for Leigh Creek’s future, whether through tourism, new industries, or simply as a place for travellers to stop and experience a piece of Australia’s history.
For us, Leigh Creek was a fascinating and slightly eerie stop. It’s a town that tells a story of industry, change, and resilience. Worth visiting for anyone wanting to see a different side of the outback.
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Leigh Creek
Leigh Creek is a purpose-built outback town in the northern Flinders Ranges region of South Australia. Established to support coal mining operations in the 1940s, it was relocated and rebuilt in the early 1980s to sit closer to the expanding open-cut mine.
At its height, the town had schools, a hospital, sporting facilities, and modern housing—a model mining community deep in the desert. When the mine ceased operations in 2015, ownership of the town was transferred back to the South Australian Government, which has since supported its transition toward new industries and tourism.
Today, Leigh Creek stands as both a reminder of South Australia’s industrial past and a potential model for outback renewal.
How to Get There
Leigh Creek is located about 560 kilometres north of Adelaide and 270 kilometres north of Port Augusta, along the Outback Highway (B83).
It’s accessible via fully sealed road, suitable for all vehicles and motorhomes. The town is often visited as part of a broader Flinders Ranges journey or a staging point for trips to Arkaroola, Marree, and the Strzelecki Track. Fuel, food, and basic services are available in town.
What to See, Tours and Activities
What we did:
Walked through the quiet streets of the township, reflecting on its history and the changes since the mine’s closure.
Visited the town centre, supermarket, and remaining local businesses — still serving a small but determined community.
Stopped at the roadside lookout to view the vast open-cut mine from a distance, its layered earth and ridgelines marking decades of excavation.
Aroona Dam Sanctuary – Just south of town, this scenic reserve is home to native wildlife and a series of walking trails around the old water supply.
Other highlights you might explore:
Copley – Only 6 km north, this small town is famous for its bakery and serves as a jumping-off point for Arkaroola and the northern ranges.
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary – A few hours north, known for its rugged mountain terrain, 4WD tracks, and astronomical observatory.
Beltana and Parachilna – Nearby heritage towns that reveal more of the region’s pioneering and mining history.
When to Visit
The best time to visit Leigh Creek is between April and October, when the days are warm and the evenings are cool.
Summer temperatures often exceed 40°C, making travel uncomfortable and some nearby tracks unsafe. Winter brings crisp air and brilliant night skies, which are perfect for camping, photography, or simply taking in the stillness of the outback.
Final Thoughts
Leigh Creek is a town in the midst of rewriting its own story. What was once a company town built on coal now sits at the crossroads of change, holding on through community, creativity, and sheer resilience. It’s not polished or picturesque in the usual way, but it’s an honest, living reminder of Australia’s changing relationship with its land and industries.
If you’re travelling through the northern Flinders, it’s worth stopping to listen, look around, and imagine what comes next.
What’s Nearby
Heading north, the road leads toward Copley and beyond to Arkaroola — a spectacular stretch of country that marks the beginning of the desert proper. To the south lies Parachilna and the gateway into the Flinders Ranges, where old gorges and historic towns tell stories from an even earlier time.
Between them, Leigh Creek sits as a kind of middle chapter. The point where the Outback begins to reveal its deeper layers.
Fast Facts
Location: Leigh Creek, Northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia
Distance from Port Augusta: 270 km north via Outback Highway (B83)
Traditional Owners: Adnyamathanha people
Access: Fully sealed highway suitable for all vehicles and motorhomes
Facilities: Supermarket, fuel, caravan park, visitor centre, Aroona Dam Sanctuary nearby
Dog Friendly: Allowed in town and at local caravan park; not permitted in Aroona Dam Sanctuary
Walking Track: Short trails at Aroona Dam and in town
Best Time to Visit: April to October for comfortable days and cool desert nights
Things That Could Kill You (Probably Won’t)
A semi-serious guide to surviving the outback.
Emus: Big, unpredictable, and not afraid to stare you down.
Snakes: Common on the warm roadsides.
Dehydration: Town water’s safe — use it. The desert doesn’t play nice.
We’re following the old mining trail north through the Flinders and beyond.
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