Lake Macfarlane, South Australia — interactive Google street map, satellite and terrain views, Street View, live local weather conditions and 7-day forecasts, real-time local and world news, and an editorial description of Lake Macfarlane, in the Pastoral Unincorporated Area local government area.
| Locality | Lake Macfarlane |
| State | South Australia (SA) |
| Local Government Area | Pastoral Unincorporated Area |
| Country | Australia |
| Timezone | Australian Central Time (ACST/ACDT) |
| Remoteness | Very Remote Australia |
| Latitude | -31.89252 |
| Longitude | 136.70115 |
| Area | 470.6 km² |
| Postcode | 5717 |
| Area Code | 08 |
| Distance to Adelaide | 381 km north-northwest |
Lake Macfarlane is a locality in the Pastoral Unincorporated Area local government area of South Australia, Australia. The locality covers an area of 470.6 km². It lies approximately 381 km north-northwest of Adelaide. Lake Macfarlane is located at 31.8925°S, 136.7012°E. It observes Australian Central Time (ACST/ACDT). Postcode: 5717. The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies the area as Very Remote Australia.
Lake Macfarlane lies a quiet sentinel in the vast, sun-baked expanse of South Australia's Pastoral Unincorporated Area. It lies 355.8 km north-north-west of Gawler, SA (from Gawler, SA: bearing 327°T), and is situated 115.6 km west-north-west of Port Augusta West. The landscape here is a study in subtle gradations of ochre and rust, the earth cracked and thirsty under an immense sky that stretches, unbroken, from horizon to horizon. Sparse, hardy saltbush and bluebush cling to the undulating terrain, their muted greens a stark contrast to the vivid, almost painful blue of the heavens. The air, when it moves, carries a dry, mineral scent, hinting at the ancient geological forces that shaped this land. In the distance, the low, rounded hills, like sleeping giants, wear cloaks of pale scrub, their outlines softened by the shimmering heat haze that perpetually dances across the plains.
The history of Lake Macfarlane is etched not in grand monuments, but in the enduring legacy of those who sought sustenance from this challenging environment. For generations, this country has been the domain of sheep graziers, their livelihoods tied to the hardy merino wool that once formed the backbone of the local economy. The sheep, like their keepers, are a testament to resilience, their fleece a soft whisper against the harshness of the land. While the fortunes of wool have waxed and waned, the spirit of self-reliance remains. Today, the primary economic pulse of Lake Macfarlane is still linked to the land, with cattle grazing forming a significant part of the pastoral enterprise. The isolation is palpable, a defining characteristic that fosters a strong sense of community amongst the scattered homesteads and the few travellers who venture this way, drawn by the sheer immensity and the profound silence that settles with the dusk.
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This page provides an interactive Google map of Lake Macfarlane, South Australia with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorially written description provides background on Lake Macfarlane, in the Pastoral Unincorporated Area local government area.
Detailed location data for Lake Macfarlane includes the postcode (5717), telephone area code (08), and local government area (Pastoral Unincorporated Area), with an ABS remoteness classification of Very Remote Australia. These are among the most commonly searched location details for any Australian city, town or locality.
Location data is drawn from Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020) and enriched with GeoNames and Australian Bureau of Statistics data, matched by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Lake Macfarlane is identified even where the name is shared across multiple localities.
| Page generated | June 2026 |
| Location data | Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020); enriched with GeoNames and ABS 2021 Census data, matched by coordinate proximity |
| Description | Editorial description generated with AI assistance from verified Geoscape, ABS and GeoNames location data. |