Yorke Peninsula was christened by Flinders on March 30, 1802, after the Right Honorable Charles Phillip Yorke, one of the first Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty who honored the voyage of the Investigator with their patronage. Flinders described the peninsula as "singular in form, having some resemblance to a very ill-shaped leg or foot." The peninsula is 120 miles long and between 20 and 30 miles wide, extending from Port Broughton in the north to past Yorketown in the south.

A DESCRIPTION OF YORKE'S PENINSULA DURING THE PASTORAL OCCUPATION YEARS. Trove

That's the place where theres neither water, grass, nor trees — only scrub, interminable horrible, dwarf scrub, maintaining an incessant struggle for existence in the parched, scanty, hard baked soil. That is the desert, country where even squatters were mined, where shepherds used to grow mad in their solitary existence, tending forlorn sheep, which vainly sought scanty consumptive looking blades of grass — a wretched, miserable place in where even a ghost would find it hard to live!

Farming begins

Strangways introduced a bill in 1868 which was eventually passed in January 1869, despite conflict with pastoralists. There was an increasing demand for more land to be available for farmers to clear of scrub for the purpose of more intensive agriculture such as growing grain crops and mixed farming. The legislation provided for the creation of agricultural areas and sale of crown land on credit. The Act allowed a person to purchase up to 640 acres (260 ha), with a payment of 20 per cent at the fall of the hammer at auction, and four years to pay the remainder.

The pastoralists who had been leasing the land for their sheep runs on easy terms for many years, were given six months notice of the resumption of their leases. The old regime was coming to a close, squatters runs were being cut up, and in 1874 the surveyors tents might be seen.

It wasn't until 1860, when a successful wheat crop was grown at Green Plains near Kadina that an explosion of interest in agriculture began. Many workers from the Adelaide Plains, Barossa Valley and the Southern Districts came to try their luck on Yorke Peninsula.

YORKE PENINSULA. SOME INTERESTING FIGURES. Trove

New land was opened for selection...

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Fri 24 Feb 1865, The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889) Trove

The following additional valuations by Mr. Goyder of runs on Yorke's Peninsula and Port Lincoln Peninsula have been confirmed by the Government and the new rents have been published in the Gazette:—

Farming History

Pastoral development began on Yorke Peninsula in 1846, with the first leases given in 1851. The leases had a term of 14 years which gave security to many of the squatter's and rent was set at 10 shillings a square mile.

It wasn't until 1860, when a successful wheat crop was grown at Green Plains near Kadina that an explosion of interest in agriculture began. Many workers from the Adelaide Plains, Barossa Valley and the Southern Districts came to try their luck on Yorke Peninsula. Agricultural success was evident when production rose from 552 acres planted and reaped in 1870 to 180,000 acres by 1884.

The experimentation of using superphosphate from trials by Professor Lowrie at Roseworthy College - saw Joe Parsons from Curramulka, drill seeds and phosphate together in the same hole in 1892. By 1896 other farmers in the area had followed his lead and they were averaging 4.5 to 5 bushells while the rest of the peninsula averaged only two bushells.

The rich limestone soils and growth in agricultural knowledge from clearing the land to sowing seeds, produced bumper crops and the Yorke Peninsula soon became known as the 'Barley Capital of the World'.

As a direct consequence of Yorke Peninsula's agricultural success, Ardrossan now has the third largest grain bulk-handling facility in South Australia.

Stump Jump Plough.

The ingenuity of early settlers was evident when in 1876 the 'stump jump plough' was invented to circumvent the laborious task of clearing mallee stumps from farmland. Invented by RB and Clarence Smith, the plough helped revolutionize the task of reducing the despised mallee scrub.

This was also assisted by knocking down and burning the growth of the mallee trees discovered by Charles Mullens at Wasleys, and the improvement of scrub rollers by William Fowler which allowed a team to travel over already rolled scrub. Ardrossan is known as the home of the stump jump plough and the ingenuity of the Smith Brothers is remembered and showcased at the local museum.

Maritime History

Historic Ports.

Since the settlement of Yorke Peninsula during the 1860s a flourishing shipping trade developed. Today Ardrossan, Wallaroo, Klein's Point and Port Giles are still thriving shipping ports with the export of grain and mining produce. They are serviced by large bulk carrying ships, quite different to the smaller ketches and windjammers of yesteryear. All of Yorke Peninsula's ports thrive as coastal holiday destinations. Whether you are dangling a line, reliving the history, diving on jetties or shipwrecks or relaxing on the coast you will enjoy our historical ports - a mixture of yesteryear and modern facilities.

Historic Jetties.
Yorke Peninsula is steeped in maritime history. Shipping was the main mode of transport for local produce for many decades, creating many colourful tales surrounding our jetties. Today they still abound with life, full of holiday makers and recreational anglers trying their luck. Yorke Peninsula's Historical Jetties brochure depicts many of these interesting tales.

Shipwrecks.
Yorke Peninsula's coastline is home to many shipwrecks and the fascinating history of their demise. The Wardang Island Maritime Heritage Trail has eight shipwrecks within 10 miles to explore in clear shallow waters making it ideal for novice shipwreck divers. The Investigator Strait Maritime Heritage Trail, between Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, features 26 shipwrecks dating from 1849 to 1982. You can download the Historical Shipwrecks brochure and waterproof dive trail booklets are available from The Farm Shed Museum & Tourism Centre in Kadina and Harvest Corner Information & Craft in Minlaton.

Lighthouses.
Surviving earthquakes, fires and constant erosion from the wind and sea, Yorke Peninsula's lighthouses have withstood the test of time. They guided shipping safely through wild seas and around treacherous coastlines and have been an integral part of Yorke Peninsula's history. Read about Yorke Peninsula's lighthouses - and the lighthouses of South Australia - on the Lighthouses Australia website.

Yorke-Peninsula - Enviro Data SA

District Council of Barunga West - Enviro Data SA

Commonwealth Jubilee Year: Chronological Table of Principal Events 1901 to 1950