Main street of Cummins
During our recent trip to the Lower Eyre Peninsula, we stopped by a small township called Cummins. This town is named after a South Australian Legislative Councillor, William Patrick Cummins, and is located about 70 kilometres north of Port Lincoln. Since its settlement in 1904, this rural town has played an essential role in the Eyre Peninsula agricultural industry with a railway line to Port Lincoln.
Cummins Institute
Shearing Quarters
On the main street of the town, there are a few historical buildings including the Cummins Institute, the Shearing Quarters, a hotel and the Cummins Milling building. The Cummins Millings Company is one of Australia's oldest and the only flour mill on the Eyre Peninsula.
Railway Loading Triangle Park
Nature Play in park
Nature Play
Right in the town is a big park which was previously the railway loading triangle. The park pays tribute to the importance of the railway line in the early years. It has manicured lawns with picnic areas, free sheltered barbecues and a big nature playground featuring a train, timber swing-a-way, wobble bridge, railway xylophone and many climbing elements.
Toilet facilities in park
Mosaic sculpture
Mosaic sculpture
Mosaic sculpture of dog
Now I want to come to a unique attraction in the park, the toilet facilities. Yes, that's right and they are worth seeing. Outside the toilet facilities are mosaic sculptures featuring a lady with an egg and a suitcase and a boy cradling the newly hatched chickens waiting to board the train. There is also the local dog relieving itself on the side wall. On the outside walls of the toilets are mosaic panels showing the station's tea room, a cat sitting by the window, a porter at the ticket counter and a climbing rose. A cleverly worded sign on the front of the building reads "Women are always right, Men to the left". Now venture inside the toilets and you will find more beautiful mosaic arts on the walls. Even the mirrors are made of mosaics. These mosaic art toilets were awarded an International Toilet Tourism Award in 2018. A unique attraction indeed!
Mosaic art
Mosaic art
Mosaic art mirror
Mosaic art mirror
Also in the park is a statue of a Wheat Lumper and wheat stacks commemorating the area's history. There are also information panels telling about the grain industry in the district.
Wheat stacks
Statue of wheat lumper
At the end of the main street is the town's War Memorial in memory of all who served in the wars. Trees were planted in memory of those who died in World War Two.
War Memorial
The town offers a good range of shops including an IGA supermarket, a bakery, a cafe and a hardware shop. There is also a caravan park for visitors who like to make
Cummins their base place when visiting the Lower Eyre Peninsula.
