Pata
SA 5333 • South Australia
About Pata
Pata is a small locality and former town in the Murray Mallee region of South Australia, situated about 15 kilometres south of Loxton along the Karoonda Highway. Originally surveyed as Muljarra in 1915 and renamed Pata in 1929 — an Aboriginal word meaning swamp gum trees — the settlement grew around the now-disused Loxton railway line. The 2021 census recorded a population of just 81 people, reflecting the sparsely settled nature of this arid farming district.
Pata's lifestyle is quintessentially outback South Australian — wide open spaces, a tight-knit farming community, and a pace of life governed by the seasons. The locality is surrounded by dryland cereal cropping and pastoral grazing properties, with the Murray River irrigation districts of Loxton nearby offering additional agricultural diversity. Residents rely on Loxton for schools, medical services, shopping and community facilities, making a car an absolute necessity.
Pata falls under postcode 5333 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Chaffey electorate.
Location
Transport & Commute
Bus Services
- SAPTrans regional services — Loxton ~20 min
Commute to Adelaide CBD
🛣️ Loxton (15 km) is the primary regional centre for daily needs.
A remote rural locality with no pedestrian infrastructure or local shops; private transport is essential.
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
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Balfour Ogilvy Avenue
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Bookpurnong Road
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6 Luther Road
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Pyap Street
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Geraldton Street