History of Urania
There does not appear to be any record of why this town was so named; but, the word is derived from the Greek "Ouranios" which means "heavenly". In Greek mythology Urania was the muse of Astronomy and was another name for Aphrodite the goddess of love and beauty.
Geologists refer to the area as Urania Gap, being a depression between the Arthurton-Maitland ridge to the north and the Mount Rat ridge on the south and an outlet for the Yorke Valley.
In permian times (approximately 200,000,000 years ago) geologists believe that Yorke Valley was a lake which was blocked by ice at Urania gap and that water now drains subterraneanly through the sand dunes to the south east into the Curramulka basin.
It was apparently in the Urania Gap area where, after days of continuous rain in 1872, surveyors, who were surveying a site for Maitland, had their tents and gear washed several miles south in a flood.
Public School
A public meeting was held on the 3Oth 1883 . at Mr. G. Greenslade's, to consider the best means of getting a school, a want greatly felt in the neighbourhood, the nearest school being seven miles off, at Maitland The inclemency of the weather prevented many from attending, but the few that did attend went into business and elected Mr. J. Prindiville chairman. Mr. Greenslade kindly promised one acre of land free of cost on condition that a public school be built on it in the north-west corner of section No. 97. The following resolution was proposed by Mr. W. Kelly— That a public school be erected on the north-west corner of section No. 97, abutting on the Maitland and Yorketown [three-chain road. This was seconded by Mr. E. Davis, and carried unanimously. Messrs. . J. Prindiville, J. Kelly, T. Collins, E. Davis, and G. Greenslade were appointed trustees. The dimensions of the building were agreed to, and a subscription-list opened. In less than half an hour £49 were subscribed, with promise of other help in the shape of stone, lime, sand, and labour. The people here respectfully call the attention of the Minister of Education to this. It plainly shows that we mean to help ourselves, and that we are entitled to help from the public funds as well as others. The names of twenty school-going children of over five years of age were given in, and no doubt there would be thirty if the parents that were unable to attend were present.. Another meeting will be shortly held to appoint a working committee. Mr. Prindiville, the secretary, was instructed to write to the timber and iron merchants at Port Adelaide to ascertain their prices for material, so that the work will go on at once.