The Eyre Peninsula town of Kimba sits at the halfway point between Sydney and Perth. It is known to tourists for its silo art and an 8-metre tall Big Galah statue, and in agriculture for its wheat and sheep production. The town is also recognised as the winner of the 2021 Agricultural Town of the Year Award. Yet what truly defines Kimba is the resilience that flows through its community.

Kimba is no stranger to drought sitting in a low rainfall zone above the Goyder’s Line, yet this year, the region was hit by floods with as much as 300 millimetres of rain. It saw entire roads swept away by rivers of water, leaving much of the area in disarray.

“We pretty much had our annual rainfall in about 36 hours,” recalled Mayor Dean Johnson.

“It was massive. I can’t understate just how big it was.”

The damage was swift and widespread. There was an estimated $9 million of road network damage with 25 roads closed and 75 restricted.

Farmers faced the challenge of containing livestock through broken fences and repairing soils that may never fully recover.

Yet through this hardship, the community banded together. While some farmers supported neighbours by transporting grain across waterlogged land, others took to small boats and paddleboards to manage their paddocks.

The council, together with locals and contractors, coordinated repairs to keep the agricultural and wider sector afloat.

“It’s a wonderful part about being in a regional community; in times of trouble, everyone does come together,” Johnson said.

“They support each other, and they make sure that no one’s badly left and is well supported in the time of need.”

The township has recently overcome floods in an area more familiar with droughts. Photo: Jordan Agutter/InDaily

Innovation is nothing new to Kimba where farmers have learned to adapt to the dry environment. They have become leaders in adopting new technologies and sharing advancements with the wider Eyre Peninsula and beyond.

David English, a fourth-generation farmer, is leading sustainable agriculture efforts as president of the Buckleboo Farm Improvement Group (BFIG), which supports the adoption of research, new technologies and management strategies into farming systems.

In its 25 years, it has significantly improved soil health and biodiversity hosting variety trials and introducing genetic improvements into the district. Its achievements were celebrated with Kimba winning the 2024 SA Landcare Award for Sustainable Agriculture.

“We really are at the forefront of pushing innovation with BFIG and bringing other investments into the community,” English said.

“It’s very much a close-knit community too and so it’s pretty supportive.”

The town’s dedication to agriculture extends to its younger generations. Local farmers actively engage with students at Kimba Area School through hands-on agricultural programs, utilising school-owned land and donated livestock.

Curriculums are developed in partnership with local businesses gaining real-world industry experience, and students undertake an ‘on the job’ placement at farm businesses. Year 11 student Dakota Woolford is motivated by this opportunity, where he is able to work full time on his family’s farm Woolinie & Co while still completing his SACE.

“Going full time while still being enrolled — it’s something that’s unheard of and it’s great for myself and all the other mates,” Woolford said.

“I think it is a great way to set myself up at a young age to be able to do what I want for the rest of my life.

“You just soak up as much as you can. It’s what I’ll be taking on to the future, so it’s very important.”

Kimba’s community spirit is especially visible at Workshop26, a thriving hub for rural women and female-founded businesses. Housed in what was once a John Deere workshop, the space has been revitalised by the vision of five women.

“It’s become is a place that draws people into Kimba,” said Lisa Lock, a volunteer and freelance writer at Workshop26.

“It draws people off the highway and into the main street of our town just to see how incredible the town is, and maybe spend money with some of the businesses while they’re here. To a small agricultural town, that’s going to really help keep us on the map for a long time to come.”

With the help of volunteers from the community, the workshop was revamped and fit out with shipping containers. Each hosts a different small local business focused on off-farm avenues from soaps and candles to antiques and vintage clothing, bringing an alternate income stream for farming families.

The painted silos are a tourist attraction in this friendly community. Photo: Jordan Agutter/InDaily

“People just really got behind it. Workshop26 is many things, but one of the most important things that it is a community centre,” Lock said.

“Kimba is a really can-do community. People are absolutely willing to take a risk, to try something different, to innovate, and I think you see that right through the community.

“Doing it together, it becomes more than the sum of its parts. It becomes something really special for everybody.”