Kadina's surrounds form an important agricultural base for the region, and are used for growing cereal crops.

[3] The Narungga are the group of Indigenous Australians whose traditional lands include what is now termed Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.

Copper was discovered at Wallaroo Mines in 1859 and adjacent land north east of the site was surveyed in 1861 to house miners and became the Government Town of Kadina.

In the same year a horse-drawn railway from Kadina to the port at Wallaroo, west of the town, was opened.

Kadina is located within the local government area of the Copper Coast Council,[3] which was formed in 1997.

Kadina is part of the federal division of Grey and lies within the state electoral district of Narungga.

Staples such as barley, wheat as well as various oilseeds and legumes like canola, chickpeas and field peas are commonly grown in the area.

The town today consists of important historical colonial and federation buildings gathered around Victoria Square.

Both of these lines closed to regular service in 1993, with the Wallaroo to Kadina section of former converted to a rail trail in 2009.

Nearby Kadina Airport caters to small private aircraft and emergency services.