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History
Copley was established in 1882 as a service stop on the extending Great Northern railway line. Surveyed in 1891 and named after William Copley, the then Commissioner of Crown Lands, it served the scattered pastoral runs of the north Flinders Ranges and provided supply depot facilities for the railway maintenance gangs living in the fettlers’ cottages situated every 12 to 15 km along the railway line.
Special attractions
Copley is situated only five km from the new town of Leigh Creek South and now lies between the new town and the coalfields. With its dominant and authentic two-story, stone Leigh Creek Hotel, Copley provides an original township alternative to the new town. It has a population of about 100 people and is a regular and sometimes successful entrant in the State’s Tidy Towns competition.
Copley has a unique and very popular bakery that specialises in preparing products containing native fruits like quandongs. The township also boasts an angling club that runs annual fishing competitions in the diversion dam on the Leigh Creek watercourse.
Tourist services
There is accommodation at the hotel and at the Copley Caravan and Cabin Park which last year (2002) won an SA Great outback award. Fuel and services are available seven days and visitors can accompany a twice-weekly mail run east to the stations on the Balcanoona and Arkaroola road and the Aboriginal communities at Nepabunna and Iga Warta.
