District Council of Yankalilla

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District Council of Yankalilla
South Australia
Yankalilla LGA.png
Location of the District Council of Yankalilla
Population5,834 (LGA 2021) [1]
 • Density7,77/km2 (2,010/sq mi)
Established1856
Area750.6 km2 (289.8 sq mi)
MayorDarryl Houston
Council seat Yankalilla
Region Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island [2]
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s) Mayo [5]
District Council of Yankalilla.png
Website District Council of Yankalilla
LGAs around District Council of Yankalilla:
City of Onkaparinga Alexandrina Council
District Council of Yankalilla City of Victor Harbor
Kangaroo Island Council

The District Council of Yankalilla is a local government area centred on the town of Yankalilla on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.

Contents

It was created on 23 October 1856, when the District Council of Yankalilla and Myponga was divided into two. It later absorbed two other councils: the District Council of Myponga on 5 January 1888, one of a number of amalgamations mandated under the District Councils Act 1887 , and later the District Council of Rapid Bay on 12 May 1932. [6]

The district has a rich history, as one of the earliest South Australian coastal settlements, and a wide range of agricultural activities having taken place. Today the district remains agricultural in nature, supplemented by tourism and forestry.

History

Pre-European

The Fleurieu Peninsula was originally inhabited by the Indigenous Kaurna people, who openly met with the Ramindjeri and other peoples for trade and exchanges. [7] Aboriginal myth credits the formation of the land forms of the Fleurieu Peninsula to the travels of Tjilbruke as he grieved carrying the body of his nephew from the Sturt River to Cape Jervis. [8]

Evidence of Megafauna, including bones attributed to Diprotodon, Maesopus – the giant kangaroo and Thylacoleo – a marsupial lion, was discovered in the 1890s. A Diprotodon leg bone was found in a swamp in the 1890s and conjecture surrounds the possibility that the animals were hunted by local aboriginal groups. [9]

European history

The Fleurieu Peninsula was first mapped by Europeans in 1802 with both the French Nicholas Baudin and the English Matthew Flinders travelling the coastline, with Baudin giving Fleurieu Peninsula its name.

William Light was the first to land on the mainland, at Rapid Bay in 1836, and declared the area "rich beyond expectation". His report resulted in the early intensive settlement of the area and the district was considered for the site of the new settlement of South Australia, before further surveying showed the site of Adelaide to be superior. [10]

Governor Hindmarsh recorded the aboriginal pronunciation of "Yoongalilla", as applied to the district and noted this in dispatches of 1837. Other legends as to the origin of the name exist, with some claims that the area was named after an American "Yankie" whaler, whose kind frequented the area at the time. There is little evidence for most of these theories however. In 1911, the town was officially proclaimed Yankalilla, which was to later become the name of the district. [11]

Whalers and sealers became the first Europeans to establish semi-permanently in the district in the early 19th century, with a whaling station established at Fisheries Beach, but a combination of shipwrecks, decreasing whale numbers and the petroleum industry forced its closure in 1855. [12]

Farming land in the district was also surveyed for purchase in 1838, with land released in 1840 and communities established at Myponga, Second Valley, Rapid Bay and later at Yankalilla. Sheep, potatoes and wheat were the first produce, with a variety of other crops grown later, including milling and the extraction of tannins from wattle bark prevalent in the district. Second Valley, Normanville and Yankalilla all had jetties constructed to serve the increasing demand for export. [10]

In 1852 the South Australian Government proclaimed an Act of Parliament appointing District Councils to administer local affairs. The District Council of Yankalilla was constituted on 5 April 1854.

The district has remained an important one to the State, transforming from the early days of European settlement as a vital connection for resources, to an integral part of South Australia's tourism interests and links between the mainland and Kangaroo Island.

Economy

A number of industries has come and gone in the district, including whaling and sealing, but agriculture now remains the staple source of the areas economy.

In the past, a number of products was farmed, including sheep, potatoes, wheat, beans, flax, tobacco, oats, maize and barley, as well as the aforementioned flour milling, timber milling and mining. [10]

Dairy farming has become a major part of the districts economy, and along with cereal crops and sheep, is the district's main source of economy. More recent developments include the trials of vineyards in the district, as well as land based aquaculture and sustainable forestry. [13]

Tourism also plays a major role in the area, with its close proximity to Adelaide drawing large crowds to the seaside towns, especially during summer.

Localities

The District Council includes the following localities - Back Valley (part), Bald Hills, Cape Jervis, Carrickalinga, Deep Creek, Delamere, Hay Flat, Inman Valley, Mount Compass, Myponga, Myponga Beach, Normanville, Pages Flat (part), Parawa, Rapid Bay, Second Valley, Sellicks Hill, Silverton, Torrens Vale, Tunkalilla, Waitpinga, Wattle Flat, Willow Creek, Wirrina Cove and Yankalilla. [14]

Geographical features

Mount Hayfield is in Hay Flat. [15] Mount Hayfield is a significant Aboriginal site, known as Wateira nengal, [16] due to its connection with the Kaurna Dreaming story of the hero Tjilbruke. Tjilbruke, the creator being of the Kaurna people, is said to have created yellow ochre at this site. [17]

There is a strenuous bush walk starting at the Ingalalla Waterfall and tracking through parts of the Second Valley Forest. [18]

Elected Members

Mayor: Darryl Houston[ when? ]

CEO: Nathan Cunningham[ when? ]

Councillors :[ when? ] Tim Moffat, Simon Rothwell, Wayne Gibbs, David Olsson, Bill Verwey, Glenn Rowlands, Lawrie Polomka


Council currently meets once a month on the third Tuesday of the month, commencing at 4.00pm

See also

Related Research Articles

The Kaurna people are a group of Aboriginal people whose traditional lands include the Adelaide Plains of South Australia. They were known as the Adelaide tribe by the early settlers. Kaurna culture and language were almost completely destroyed within a few decades of the British colonisation of South Australia in 1836. However, extensive documentation by early missionaries and other researchers has enabled a modern revival of both language and culture. The phrase Kaurna meyunna means "Kaurna people".

The Fleurieu Peninsula is a peninsula in the Australian state of South Australia located south of the state capital of Adelaide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Jervis</span> Town in South Australia

Cape Jervis is a town in the Australian state of South Australia located near the western tip of Fleurieu Peninsula on the southern end of the Main South Road approximately 88 kilometres (55 mi) south of the state capital of Adelaide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tjilbruke</span> Creation being in Kaurna (an Aboriginal Australian group) mythology

Tjilbruke is an important creation ancestor for the Kaurna people of the Adelaide plains in the Australian state of South Australia. Tjilbruke was a Kaurna man, who appeared in Kaurna Dreaming dating back about 11,000 years. The Tjilbruke Dreaming Track or Tjilbruke Dreaming Trail is a major Dreaming trail, which connects sites from within metropolitan Adelaide southwards as far as Cape Jervis, some of which are Aboriginal sacred sites of great significance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Valley, South Australia</span> Coastal town in South Australia

Second Valley is a coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrickalinga</span> Suburb of District Council of Yankalilla, South Australia

Carrickalinga is a small coastal town in South Australia about 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula overlooking Gulf St Vincent. The town has no shops, with the nearest being in Normanville, one kilometre away. Haycock Point separates two beaches, sometimes referred to as North Carrickalinga and South Carrickalinga beaches, both on Yankalilla Bay. Carrickalinga Creek discharges into the sea south of the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sellicks Beach, South Australia</span> Suburb of City of Onkaparinga, South Australia

Sellicks Beach, formerly spelt Sellick's Beach, is a suburb in the Australian state of South Australia located within Adelaide metropolitan area about 47 kilometres (29 mi) from the Adelaide city centre. It is an outer southern suburb of Adelaide and is located in the local government area of the City of Onkaparinga at the southern boundary of the metropolitan area. It is known as Witawali or Witawodli by the traditional owners, the Kaurna people, and is of significance as being the site of a freshwater spring said to be created by the tears of Tjilbruke, the creator being.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapid Bay, South Australia</span> Coastal town in South Australia

Rapid Bay is a locality that includes a small seaside town and bay on the west coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. It lies within the District Council of Yankalilla and its township is approximately 100 km south of the state capital, Adelaide. A pair of jetties are popular attractions for recreational fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling. The bay particularly known as a site for observing leafy seadragons in the wild. Its postcode is 5204.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Normanville, South Australia</span> Town in South Australia

Normanville is a coastal town in the Australian state of South Australia on the west coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yankalilla, South Australia</span> Town in South Australia

Yankalilla is an agriculturally based town situated on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, located 72 km south of the state's capital of Adelaide. The town is nestled in the Bungala River valley, overlooked by the southern Mount Lofty Ranges and acts as a service centre for the surrounding agricultural district.

The Bungala River is a river located on the Fleurieu Peninsula in the Australian state of South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sellicks Hill, South Australia</span> Suburb of City of Onkaparinga, District Council of Yankalilla, South Australia

Sellicks Hill – formerly spelt Sellick's Hill – is a semi-rural suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It lies within both the City of Onkaparinga and the District Council of Yankalilla. Before the British colonisation of South Australia, the Sellicks Hill area, was inhabited by the Kaurna people. Sellick's Hill Post Office opened on 2 July 1860.

Mount Compass is a town and locality in the Australian state of South Australia located in the Mount Lofty Ranges, on the A13 south of Adelaide, and north of Victor Harbor. It is a small community, traditionally supported by farming. Both market gardens and dairy have proved lucrative in the area. At the 2016 census, Mount Compass shared a population of 1,457 with adjoining localities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myponga, South Australia</span> Town in South Australia

Myponga is a settlement in South Australia. At the 2016 census, the locality had a population of 744, of whom 393 lived in its town centre. Myponga is located within the federal division of Mayo, the state electoral district of Mawson, and the local government area of the District Council of Yankalilla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ingalalla Waterfalls</span> Waterfall in South Australia

The Ingalalla Waterfalls, also known as Ingalalla Falls, is a cascade waterfall in the Australian state of South Australia, located in the locality of Hay Flat within the District Council of Yankalilla, on an unnamed creek on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

In South Australia, one of the states of Australia, there are many areas which are commonly known by regional names. Regions are areas that share similar characteristics. These characteristics may be natural such as the Murray River, the coastline, desert or mountains. Alternatively, the characteristics may be cultural, such as common land use. South Australia is divided by numerous sets of regional boundaries, based on different characteristics. In many cases boundaries defined by different agencies are coterminous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wirrina Cove</span> Suburb of District Council of Yankalilla, South Australia

Wirrina Cove is a locality and holiday resort on the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. It is located between the coastal towns of Second Valley and Normanville on Yankalilla Bay. The holiday resort was developed from around 1972, and is located about 90 kilometres (56 mi) south of Adelaide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County of Hindmarsh</span> Cadastral in South Australia

The County of Hindmarsh is one of the 49 cadastral counties of South Australia. It was proclaimed by Governor George Grey in 1842 and named for Governor John Hindmarsh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myponga Beach, South Australia</span> Coastal locality in South Australia

Myponga Beach is a locality in the Australian state of South Australia about 54 kilometres south of the state capital of Adelaide. It is on the eastern shore of Gulf St Vincent, immediately north of the northern boundary of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

References

  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Yankalilla (Local Government Area)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. "Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island SA Government region" (PDF). The Government of South Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  3. "District of Finniss Background Profile". ELECTORAL COMMISSION SA. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  4. Mawson (Map). Electoral District Boundaries Commission. 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  5. "Federal electoral division of Mayo, boundary gazetted 16 December 2011" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  6. Marsden, Susan (2012). "A History of South Australian Councils to 1936" (PDF). Local Government Association of South Australia. p. 41.
  7. ACC, Kaurna Tribe, archived from the original on 3 April 2007, retrieved 6 June 2007
  8. Aboriginal Education SA, Aboriginal Dreamings (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2007, retrieved 6 June 2007
  9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 January 1907), The Geology of Australia , retrieved 6 June 2007
  10. 1 2 3 DC of Yankalilla, History , retrieved 6 June 2007
  11. Walkabout South Australia, Yankalilla, archived from the original on 30 April 2007, retrieved 6 June 2007
  12. Sydney Morning Herald tourism (8 February 2004), "Yankalilla", The Sydney Morning Herald, retrieved 6 June 2007
  13. DC of Yankalilla, Agriculture and Primary Production , retrieved 6 June 2007
  14. "Search result for "Yankililla (Locality Bounded)" (Record no SA0029841) with the following layers selected - "Suburbs and Localities" and "Local Government Areas"". Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  15. "Mount Hayfield". Google Maps. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  16. "Tjilbruke Story". Port Adelaide Enfield. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  17. Malone, Gavin Damien Francis (2012). "Chapter 10: Kaurna Ancestor Being Tjilbruke: Commemorations". Phases of Aboriginal Inclusion in the Public Space in Adelaide, South Australia, since Colonisation (PhD). Flinders University. p. 217. Retrieved 17 November 2020.Chapter 10 PDF
  18. "Mount Hayfield". Aussie Trail Walker. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2020.

35°27′18″S138°20′08″E / 35.455°S 138.335555556°E / -35.455; 138.335555556