Welcome to Owen.

Speak to a local and they will tell you they cannot imagine not living here.

Inspired by the peaceful environment of our unspoilt, rural surrounds Owen is a place of country values, simple authenticity, and personal connections.

Living in a small town like Owen is a way of life. It is what we love to do and is extremely rewarding.

The opportunity to raise a family in the country is amazing, especially seeing the kids grow up within the community.

With it comes shared responsibility and challenges. Owen is built on a legacy.

We have a great appreciation for past generations, family legacies and what they did for Owen.

It is our turn. We are the current custodians, entrusted to make a difference.

Our focus is building on Owen’s legacy to protect, maintain and improve the community for future generations so they can continue to have the same opportunities and benefits.

Our connection to community is strong. Volunteering, being involved and having a positive impact is always on our mind.

We are proud, passionate, and remarkably self-sufficient people known for our dependability and resourcefulness.

Owen is open for you to enjoy and relax. The locals love a chat.

We are just down the road, a world away within the hour.

Our wish during your time here is that you embrace our culture, interact with us, and make new connections.

We look forward to meeting you and hearing your story.

ABOUT US

The township of Owen was established in 1878 with the building of the Hamley Bridge - Balaklava railway line, linking Owen to Port Wakefield and Port Adelaide. The town layout is like that of Colonel Light's Adelaide, with parklands around the centre square.

The European settlers had, however, been farming in the area some decades earlier, back to the 1850's, with horse and buggy their mode of transport.

Prior to this, these were the homelands of the Kaurna Aboriginal people, with their mallee scrub and grassland hunting grounds, steadily converted to cropping and grazing.

In the early days, Owen was very much a rural town, servicing the needs of a farming community.

For around 120 years, the railway was the lifeline for the town and surrounding districts. Transport is now by road, with the final journey along the line taken in 2001.

The rainfall average is 400 millimetres.

The township in the late 1800's and early 1900s comprised businesses which related to horses, the only means of transport. Early businesses included black smith forgeries, a harness shop, chaff mills and a butter factory. Other shops included a general store, butcher, baker, machinery agent, stock agents, drapery, tea rooms, doctor's surgery, chemist, post office, and telephone exchange.

The inaugural meeting of the District Council of Dalkey was held in a local house in 1875, but it was not until 1882 that the Council Chamber was built, eventually, with the amalgamation of the District Councils of Dalkey and Alma Plains, the District Council of Owen was created in 1932. The school was built in 1883.

Other buildings of note were the town hall and the Wooroora Hotel both built in 1905, followed by the three churches, Church of Christ (1906), Methodist (1908), and Anglican (1910). The Bank of Adelaide had been built in 1904, with a branch of the Commonwealth Bank in 1907 and The Coffee Palace (a guest house), Owen Masonic Lodge established in 1924 and the Owen emergency fire Service (later the CFS) in 1940.

Circa 1920, motorised transport and tractors appeared, and two motor garages were established in the town to sell and service cars and machinery.

Today Owen is a township of people who enjoy the rural life, with some commuting to the city and surrounding regional centres for work. It is also a place much sought after by retirees and younger families, the population including the surrounding area is about 400, with approximately 75 children attending the primary school and the play group.

Sport was always an important part of the community; sports included coursing, croquet, gymnastics, cricket, billiards, football, netball, tennis, golf, bowls, table tennis, snooker, rifle club, and swimming. Now sports are restricted to tennis, golf, bowls, basketball, netball, table tennis, and swimming.

Many service organisations have been established over the years including Toc H, Royal Institution for the Blind Aux, Owen Minda Association, Adelaide Children's Hospital Auxilary, Church Guilds, Lions Club and Meals on Wheels. Many such as the Agriculture Bureau, Church Fellowship, Red Cross, C.W.A. and Owen Community Centre are still active today.

The Owen Wetlands were established in 1993 to make use of the town's storm water - well worth a look or a stroll around while using the walking trail.