Town

Mannanarie is a small settlement situated about 200 kilometres north of Adelaide, South Australia, between the townships of Jamestown and Peterborough. It is situated on a fertile plain which stretches out towards the north into the less fertile Black Rock plain. To the west is the Narien Range. A prominent mountain in this range, Mount Lock, has been used by early explorers and geographers, for surveying the region. The Narien Range is a transition zone between the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Flinders Ranges.
The area is at the base of a series of hills which run parallel to the Narien Range and extend southward. In this position, Mannanarie was accessible to the population of the district and was a suitable stop-over position for travellers proceeding north and south between the ranges.
Mannanarie is located in between Jamestown, Orroroo and Peterborough, and is 19 kilometres from Jamestown, 38 kilometres from Orroroo and 25 kilometres from Peterborough. It is also near several smaller towns, such as Yongala (14 km east), Yatina (north east) and Appila, Hornsdale, Pekina and Tarcowie to the west. Although most towns originated at around the same time, technological and societal advances have meant that some towns have outgrown others, and some have flourished while others have died. People have become prepared to travel further for goods and services, resulting in this decline in the need for towns.