THE PRINCIPAL PORTS IN ST. VINCENT GULF, LOWER YORKE'S PENINSULA.

Sat 18 Oct 1879, The Wallaroo Times and Mining Journal (Port Wallaroo, SA : 1865 - 1881) Trove

We must own that although the ports in Spencer's Gulf are superior as regards their facilities for shipping, there are none of them, so admirably adapted for watering places, as either Stansbury, Edithburg or Ardrossan. The first named of these ports presents from seaward, one of the prettiest views we have seen in the colony. The township is built on a rising ground, stretching half a mile to the westward of the jetty. The buildings are neat, and being built of a fine colored stone, are shown to advantage by the green back ground of natural grass. There are two excellent Hotels, and a very handsome Post and Telegraph Office, al-though of somewhat limited dimensions, and the most prominent building is the Wesleyan Chapel, which stands on the summit of the hill. There is also a well finished weatherboard Church of Eng-land, and, besides these buildings, there are numerous stores and dwelling houses, making, altogether, a very compact little town. Stansbury also has the advantage of an excellent beach, some miles in length, and the Jetty, although, and ab-surdly high for shipping purposes, is a well built and handsome structure. The beach stretches from Oyster Point, south east from the town, and runs north west from the Jetty, for about a mile, when it is continued by an abrupt and somewhat steep coast line about 20 feet high which takes a north easterly direction to Sur-veyors Point, some 8 or 10 miles distant. Thus a large bay is formed and the low cliff spoken of gives the port a very snug appearance. Steamers run regularly twice a week to and from Port Adelaide, and are always well patronised as regards both passengers and freight, and from the large farming district that surrounds Stansbury we may confidently predict a prosperous future for the place. Edith-burg, to the southward, is a thriving place, although few new buildings have been erected during the past twelve months. As a resort for pleasure seekers it is inferior to Stansbury in one point, while in others it is superior. It has not in the first place, any beach, the coast being low and rocky, but the surrounding country provides quiet, shady retreats that we have rarely seen surpassed. The cricketing oval which, is a natural one, has been fenced, and a grand stand erected capable of accommodating a very large number of spectators; such an oval would be regarded as an especial feature were it situated near any of our larger centres of population. The people of Edithburg are justly proud of their township and have displayed no small amount of goa-headism, from the fact that the "James Comrie," an excellent steamer which trades regularly to Port Adelaide, is principally owned by residents of Edithburg and its neighbourhood. Although some good country has been opened up around Edithburg it has not the amount of back country to support it that is possessed by Stansbury. In this respect Ardrossan is quite equal to Stansbury, pome of the finest agricul-tural land on the Peninsula haying Ar-drossan as a port of shipment. Steamers run regularly from thence to Port Ade-laide, and from the geographical position of the former the route is an excellent one for those going to the metropolis from the Peninsula. The coaching portion of the journey is through excellent country, whilst the very short and pleas-sant trip across the Gulf to Port Ade-laide presents so few inconveniences that it could not be objected to by the great-est sufferer from seasickness. As in the others town on lower Yorke's Peninsula it is provided with excellent Hotel accom-modation. The three ports spoken of, although the principal shipping places on the northern shore of St. Vincent's Gulf, will never become such large places as one might imagine, from the extensive area of land surrounding them. This is accounted for by the fact that, owing to the formation of the coast line, goods may he shipped and unshipped at almost any point with comparative ease. This, while taking from the principal ports, cannot be looked upon as an unmixed evil. We would not advocate the expenditure of large sums of money in the erection of jetties at every convenient nook, Still it must he owned that where a large amount of produce can be shipped at a convenient point on the coast, a great saving is effected to the colony, as otherwise very expensive roads would re-quire to be constructed in order that producers might be enabled to reach recognised ports. Should the present prospects regarding the coming harvest be fully realised, there can be little doubt a very large quantity of wheat will be shipped this year, not only at the Ports alluded to, but at those in Spencers Gulf as well.