Location
Roxby Downs is 570 klms North west of Adelaide South Australia, the Region is known as the Far North.
The name Roxby Downs comes from the name of the original station.
The purpose-built township of Roxby Downs is 16 kilometres due south of the Olympic Dam Mine Operations, owned by BHP Billiton.
Olympic Dam Mine was named after a livestock watering dam on the Roxby Downs pastoral lease under which the orebody lies. The dam was built during the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956 and is very close to the discovery drill site.
The Olympic Dam Mine and the township of Roxby Downs were officially opened on 5th November 1988. 2008 was the 20th Anniversary.
Population
Population of 4,500 + 900 drive/fly in/out contractors
median age of 29 years
38% under 15 years of age
Only 158 over 55 years
There are 32 different nationalities resident in Roxby Downs
Retail expenditure
Although the number of retail outlets is relatively small most essential goods and services are covered including mens and women's clothing, newsagency, pharmacy, gifts, jewellery, hairdressers, hardware, furniture and electrical, plants and gardening, auto accessories, video store, photo processing, toys and a Woolworths supermarket. There are 4 takeaway food outlets.
Surveys have shown 64% of all 'out of town' spending leaks to Adelaide, followed by Port Augusta and Whyalla
58% of the leaked income is on non food items
Expected total expenditure by 2013 is forecast to be approximately $121 million
Other Facts
Roxby Downs water comes from the Great Artesian Basin click here to read more about Roxby Downs Water
Roxby Downs Area School is the largest area school in South Australia
Roxby Downs has the highest number of broadband connnections in South Australia (Quality of Life Survey 2008).
Roxby Downs and Olympic Dam have no traffic lights - it's an easy town to move around in.
Roxby Downs is part of the Giles Electoral District for State elections and Grey Electoral District for Federal elections.
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