Settlement history

European settlement of the Roxby Downs area dates from the 1890s, with land used for cattle and sheep grazing. Population was minimal until the early 1980s when exploratory mining commenced. Rapid growth took place during the late 1980s when the township was purpose built to accommodate and service the employees of the Olympic Dam Mine. The population continued to increase substantially from the early 1990s, rising from about 2,400 in 1991 to about 5,800 in 2011. Population increase was greatest from 1996, due to an increase in mining activity. Population growth is expected to continue as mining operations expand.

Land use

The Roxby Downs Council area includes a rural and mining area surrounding a growing township. The town acts as a service centre for the mining industry. Land is used mainly for the mining of uranium oxide, copper, gold and silver. The Council area encompasses a total land area of about 110 square kilometres.

Transport

The Roxby Downs Council area is served by Olympic Way and the Olympic Dam Airport.

Major features

• Major features of the Council area include the Olympic Dam Mine,
• Roxby Downs Town Centre,
• Roxby Downs Cultural and Leisure Precinct (including Roxby Leisure Pool and Roxby Downs Gallery),
• TAFE SA (Roxby Downs Campus),
• Roxby Downs Hospital,
• Roxby Downs Golf Club,
• Roxby Downs Racecourse,
• Roxby Downs Dirt Circuit,
• Arid Recovery Reserve,
• Lions Park,
• Roxby Downs Area School and St Barbara's Parish School.