Belvidere Range Explained

Belvidere Range
Other Name:Nain Range
Country:Australia
State:South Australia
Map:Australia South Australia
Map Relief:1
Region:Northern Mount Lofty Ranges
Range Coordinates:-34.1783°N 138.8323°W
Length Orientation:N-S
Width Orientation:E-W

The Belvidere Range is a mountain range of the Northern Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia.

The range was named in 1840 by early geologist/explorer Johannes Menge because he thought the highest point commanded a beautiful view (Latin Bellus meaning beautiful and videre meaning sight).[1] [2]

The range commences in the south at Nain and Greenock, where it is also known as the Nain Range, and rises almost exactly northwards to end near Black Springs.

The Hundred of Belvidere (proclaimed in 1851) and Belvidere Mine (a historic marble mine) south-east of Kapunda beside a crossing of the River Light, was likely named for the Belvidere Range which overlooks the mine and the west of the hundred.

Notes and References

  1. News: Mineralogy of South Australia . . III . 127 . South Australia . 27 June 1840 . 27 November 2020 . 6 . Trove . I was obliged to fix the places where minerals occur by name of my own invention. Where Ranges had been named I used them, but I gave the name to the Belvidere Range, because of the beautiful prospect I enjoyed on the top of the highest one in it;.
  2. News: Statistical Account of South Australia . . VII . 581 . South Australia . 10 December 1844 . 1 December 2017 . 2 . Trove . Belvidere Range – Oxides of iron (various), varieties of compact quartz, zeolite do., flinty slate, hornstone, opal, zeolite, garnet, hornblende, alum-stone, talc, feldspar, dolomite, alum, plumbago or black lead, grey wacke..