History
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History |
 
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The South Australian Rifle Association (SARA) was formed as a sporting body in January
1861. A list of the people present at the meeting forming the Association reads like a
"who's who" of early South Australia, even the Governor's wife was present (she
offered a "purse" to be used as a prize in the early competitions). While the
sporting aspect of shooting was always foremost in the minds of our founders, the
requirement for defence was also a great concern and lead to the close association of SARA
with the then Colonial Defence forces which carried on until the 1960's. The association first started shooting on the South Parklands range, this of course
started to get quite dangerous especially for people from the Unley area trying to get
into the city. In 1887 (approx) the Association shifted to what was then known as the
Defence Reserve at Port Adelaide, a vast swathe of land extending from the wharves in Port
Adelaide around the Barker Inlet and up to Dry Creek. This area
was reduced over the
years until all that was left was the area we
knew as the Dean Rifle Range. SARA was a continuous
resident of the Dean Range from 1887 until June 2003. In the late1980's the Commonwealth Government sold the Dean to the State Government. The land had been identified as being required for other uses, and so the Association unfortunately had to move. Thankfully the SA Government, particularly through the Dept of Rec & Sport has been most supportive in our relocation. This support has been in the form of both financial compensation and planning assistance. We are particularly appreciative of this support. In July 2003 shooting commenced on the newly completed
range at Lower Light, approximately 45km north of Adelaide. The first SA "Kings/Queens Prize" competition, the premier shooting event in
South Australia, was first conducted in 1879 and has been fired at the following
locations :- Affiliations
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