7 fascinating SA places you probably didn't know were heritage-listed!

Did you know that a place or object can be heritage-listed for its historical, social or cultural importance, design merit or rarity? It isn’t just the age that matters.

In South Australia, we have 2,339 heritage-listed places – which includes everything from trees and statutes to private properties and churches.

As we gear up to celebrate South Australia's History Festival (1-31 May), we thought we’d highlight some of the more quirky, uncommon and unusual heritage places in our state.

Add these sites to the list for your next road trip and impress your friends and family with your knowledge!

1. The Silent Cop

Where: Balaklava

The ‘Silent Cop’ was a once a regularly used traffic management device.

These metal or concrete bollards were installed on corners and at busy roads or intersections to guide traffic and prevent people from doing the wrong thing.

The name is a reference to when police regularly managed traffic on busy roads.

One of these ‘Silent Cops’ still stands in Balaklava in the state’s mid-north, in the middle of an intersection of 5 key roads.

Though a roundabout was installed in 2002, simplifying traffic management, the Silent Cop still stands – reminding drivers to keep left.

While we’re sure the Silent Cop has done a great job, we have it on good authority from the Wakefield Regional Council that, over the years, there have been a few cheeky drivers that have not adhered to its guidance.

2. The Shri Ganesha Temple

Where: Oaklands Park

The Shri Ganesha Temple is recognised as South Australia’s first traditional Hindu temple.

The design of the Shri Ganesha Temple resembles the human body lying on its back with the head to the east and feet to the west and houses 25 hand-crafted deities, including Ganesha, crafted in India.

The temple is open to anyone without charge. If you’re interested in visiting the temple, be sure to visit the website for guidance on what to wear and how to be respectful.

3. Mounting Steps

Where: Auburn

You could walk past these unassuming stone steps in Auburn and not realise their significance.

If you imagine the days before cars, mounting steps allowed people to step right in to the then preferred form of public transport – horse-drawn carts.

Once a common sight, the steps in in Auburn are now one of the few remaining reminders of this bygone era. The only other known mounting steps are in Watervale, Mintaro and Riverton.

4. The Herbig Family Tree

Where: Springton

Can you imagine living in a tree?

That was the case for Friedrick Herbig, who migrated to South Australia in 1855 and made his home in the hollow base of a large redgum tree.

At 21 m tall and 6 m at its widest point, the tree is thought to be about 500 years old.

It was a convenient spot for Herbig who worked at a nearby dairy farm. He eventually built a house close to the tree when he married and had a family.

The tree was also used as a shelter by the Peramangk people, who are the Traditional Owners of the region.

5. The Semaphore Timeball Tower

Where: Semaphore

The Semaphore Timeball Tower, used from 1875-1932, dropped its ‘timeball’ at a specific time each day thanks to an electric impulse transmitted by landline from the Adelaide Observatory.

This helped vessels check the accuracy of their chronometers (used for navigation and timekeeping) by comparing them with the timeball.

There were once at least 2 other timeball structures in South Australia, in Port Pirie and Port Adelaide, but both were mounted on buildings and no longer exist.

You can see this relic of a time before wireless telegraphy for yourself by visiting the Timeball Tower Reserve, which overlooks Semaphore foreshore.

6. Pildappa Rock

Where: Minnipa

Pildappa Rock, a large granite rock near Minnipa, has the highest and longest wave formation on the Eyre Peninsula.

The rock is heritage-listed because of its geological significance. As one of the most interesting and unique granite outcrops in the area, it provides insight into our natural history.

As well as being a spectacular site in its own right, those that climb Pildappa Rock will be treated to views of the surrounding area, including the Gawler Ranges.

Picnic, toilet and barbeque facilities are also available – making it the perfect spot for your next road trip.

To find out more, visit the Wudinna District Council’s website.

7. Grave of a Japanese Naval Cadet

Where: Cheltenham

There are quite a few gravesites on the State Heritage Register, many of which contribute to our knowledge and understanding of the past.

The grave of a young Japanese naval cadet at Cheltenham Cemetery, in Adelaide’s western suburbs, recognises the relationship between Japan and Australia.

The cadet’s name was Yoshikuma Kawakami and he died on 23 April 1887, aged just 21 years.

He’d been travelling on the Japanese warship Ryuyo as it made its way towards Adelaide on a goodwill visit. Unfortunately, Yoshikuma died of a lung infection before arriving.

When the ship arrived, it was decided that the cadet would be buried at what was then called the Port Adelaide and Suburban Cemetery (now Cheltenham Cemetery).

Want more? You can search for a heritage place in online databases and interactive maps, such as SA Heritage Places Database, NatureMaps and the Australian Heritage Database.

Looking for more places to visit on your next adventure? Check out 8 ocean pools you can visit in South Australia.

Main image: Isaac Forman via South Australian Tourism Commission