District Council of Yankalilla
Encyclopedia
The District Council of Yankalilla is a Local Government Area centred on the town of Yankalilla
on South Australia
's Fleurieu Peninsula
. The council was established in 1854, two years after legislation was passed allowing the formation of District Councils
in South Australia.
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
.
was originally inhabited by the indigenous
Kaurna people, who openly met with the Ramindjeri
and other peoples for trade and exchanges. Aboriginal myth credits the formation of the land forms of the Southern Fleurieu to the travels of Tjilbruke
as he grieved carrying the body of his nephew from the Sturt River
to Cape Jervis
.
Evidence of Megafauna
, including bones attributed to Diprotodon
, Maesopus - the giant kangaroo
and Thylacoleo - a marsupial lion, were 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.
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.
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.
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 ship wrecks, decreasing whale
numbers and the petroleum industry
forced its closure in 1855.
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.
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 remained an important one to the state, but as transportation improved, its proximity to Adelaide
decreased its original importance and now has very little influence on the welfare of the state.
now remains the staple source of the areas economy.
In the past, a number of products were farmed, including sheep, potatoes, wheat, beans, flax
, tobacco
, oats
, maize
and barley
, as well as the aforementioned flour
milling, timber
milling and mining
.
Dairy
farming has become a major part of the districts economy, and along with cereal crops and sheep, is the districts main source of economy. More recent developments include the trials of vineyards in the district, as well as land based aquaculture
and sustainable forestry
.
Tourism
also plays a minor role in the area, with its close proximity to Adelaide drawing large crowds to the seaside towns, especially during summer.
There are a number of smaller towns and moslty uninhabitd areas encompassed by the district. The full list of these is:
Bald Hills, Bullaparinga, Carrickalinga
, Deep Creek
, Delamere, Hay Flat, Inman Valley
, Myponga Beach, Pages Flat, Parawa, Randalsea, Second Valley
, Sellicks Hill, Silverton, Talisker, Torrens Vale, Tunkalilla, Wattle Flat, Willow Creek and Wirrina Cove.
: Peter Whitford
CEO: Roger Sweetman
Councillors:
Council currently meets twice a month on the first and third Thursday of the month, commencing at 10.00am
Yankalilla, South Australia
Yankalilla is an agriculturally-based town situated on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, located 72 km south of the state's capital of Adelaide...
on South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
's Fleurieu Peninsula
Fleurieu Peninsula
The Fleurieu Peninsula is a peninsula located south of Adelaide in South Australia, Australia. It was named after the French explorer and hydrographer Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin as he mapped the south coast of Australia in 1802.Towns of interest in the...
. The council was established in 1854, two years after legislation was passed allowing the formation of District Councils
Local Government Areas of South Australia
This is a list of Local Government Areas in South Australia. The LGAs are grouped by region, as defined by the Local Government Association of South Australia.-LGAs sorted by region:-External links:* *...
in South Australia.
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
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
.
Pre-European
The Southern FleurieuFleurieu Peninsula
The Fleurieu Peninsula is a peninsula located south of Adelaide in South Australia, Australia. It was named after the French explorer and hydrographer Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin as he mapped the south coast of Australia in 1802.Towns of interest in the...
was originally inhabited by the indigenous
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
Kaurna people, who openly met with the Ramindjeri
Ramindjeri
Ramindjeri are a clan of Australian Aboriginal people forming part of the Ngarrindjeri people. Ramindjeri land is the most westerly of the Ngarrindjeri, covering the area around Encounter Bay in southern South Australia, including Victor Harbor and Port Elliot, however an ongoing native title...
and other peoples for trade and exchanges. Aboriginal myth credits the formation of the land forms of the Southern Fleurieu to the travels of Tjilbruke
Tjilbruke
Tjilbruke is an important Creation Ancestor folklore / law of the Kaurna people of the now known since 1836, Adelaide Plains Aboriginal creation story. The lore tells of a time when all the people lived in accord with peaceful trading Laws which governed all the peoples lives...
as he grieved carrying the body of his nephew from the Sturt River
Sturt River, Adelaide
The Sturt River is a river located in Adelaide, South Australia. Beginning in Upper Sturt in the Adelaide Hills, it flows through Coromandel Valley, the Sturt Gorge Recreation Park, Marion and Morphettville, before meeting the Patawalonga in Glenelg North. Along with Brown Hill Creek, it is one of...
to Cape Jervis
Cape Jervis, South Australia
Cape Jervis is a town at the southwestern tip of Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, approximately 108 km south of Adelaide. The population is approximately 300 people and growing rapidly, with a new estate situated behind the main town...
.
Evidence of Megafauna
Megafauna
In terrestrial zoology, megafauna are "giant", "very large" or "large" animals. The most common thresholds used are or...
, including bones attributed to Diprotodon
Diprotodon
Diprotodon, meaning "two forward teeth", sometimes known as the Giant Wombat or the Rhinoceros Wombat, was the largest known marsupial that ever lived...
, Maesopus - the giant kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
and Thylacoleo - a marsupial lion, were discovered in the 1890s. A Diprotodon leg bone was found in a swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
in the 1890s and conjecture surrounds the possibility that the animals were hunted by local aboriginal groups.
European History
The Southern Fleurieu PeninsulaFleurieu Peninsula
The Fleurieu Peninsula is a peninsula located south of Adelaide in South Australia, Australia. It was named after the French explorer and hydrographer Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin as he mapped the south coast of Australia in 1802.Towns of interest in the...
was first mapped by Europeans
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
in 1802 with both the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Nicholas Baudin and the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
travelling the coastline, with Baudin giving Fleurieu Peninsula
Fleurieu Peninsula
The Fleurieu Peninsula is a peninsula located south of Adelaide in South Australia, Australia. It was named after the French explorer and hydrographer Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin as he mapped the south coast of Australia in 1802.Towns of interest in the...
its name.
William Light
William Light
Colonel William Light was a British military officer and the first Surveyor-General of the Colony of South Australia...
was the first to land on the mainland, at Rapid Bay
Rapid Bay, South Australia
Rapid Bay is a small seaside town in the southwest of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. It is approximately 100 km south of the state capital, Adelaide...
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
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
to be superior.
Governor Hindmarsh
John Hindmarsh
Rear-Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh KH RN was a naval officer and the first Governor of South Australia, from 28 December 1836 to 16 July 1838.-Early life:...
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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
"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.
Whalers
Whalers
Whalers may refer to:* Danbury Whalers,US ice-hockey team in the Federal Hockey League* Eden Whalers, Australian Rules Football team* Hartford Whalers, former US ice-hockey team* New Bedford Whalers, name of three US soccer teams...
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 ship wrecks, decreasing whale
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
numbers and the petroleum industry
Petroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
forced its closure in 1855.
Farming land in the District was also surveyed for purchase in 1838, with land released in 1840 and communities established at Myponga
Myponga, South Australia
Myponga is a settlement in South Australia. At the 2006 census, Myponga had a population of 540.-References:One of the first Pioneer Families to Settle the area, was the Family of CON POLDEN & MARY WINDSOR along with their children from Wiltshire SOUTH/WEST ENGLAND.-See also:*Myponga Reservoir...
, Second Valley
Second Valley, South Australia
Second Valley is a coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. At the 2006 census, Second Valley had a population of 171.The name is derived from being the next valley north of Rapid Bay, the initial camp on South Australian mainland of Colonel William Light....
, Rapid Bay
Rapid Bay, South Australia
Rapid Bay is a small seaside town in the southwest of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. It is approximately 100 km south of the state capital, Adelaide...
and later at Yankalilla
Yankalilla, South Australia
Yankalilla is an agriculturally-based town situated on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, located 72 km south of the state's capital of Adelaide...
. Sheep, potatoes and wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
were the first produce, with a variety of other crops grown later, including milling
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
and the extraction of tannins from wattle
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
bark prevalent in the district. Second Valley, Normanville and Yankalilla all had jetties constructed to serve the increasing demand for export.
In 1852 the South Australian Government proclaimed an Act of Parliament appointing District Councils
Local Government Areas of South Australia
This is a list of Local Government Areas in South Australia. The LGAs are grouped by region, as defined by the Local Government Association of South Australia.-LGAs sorted by region:-External links:* *...
to administer local affairs. The District Council of Yankalilla was constituted on 5 April 1854.
The district remained an important one to the state, but as transportation improved, its proximity to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
decreased its original importance and now has very little influence on the welfare of the state.
Economy
A number of industries have come and gone in the district, including whaling and sealing, but agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
now remains the staple source of the areas economy.
In the past, a number of products were farmed, including sheep, potatoes, wheat, beans, flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
, tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
, oats
OATS
OATS - Open Source Assistive Technology Software - is a source code repository or "forge" for assistive technology software. It was launched in 2006 with the goal to provide a one-stop “shop” for end users, clinicians and open-source developers to promote and develop open source assistive...
, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
, as well as the aforementioned flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
milling, timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
milling and mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
.
Dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
farming has become a major part of the districts economy, and along with cereal crops and sheep, is the districts main source of economy. More recent developments include the trials of vineyards in the district, as well as land based aquaculture
Aquaculture
Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the...
and sustainable forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
.
Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
also plays a minor role in the area, with its close proximity to Adelaide drawing large crowds to the seaside towns, especially during summer.
Localities
Larger towns governed locally by Yankalilla District Council include:- Cape JervisCape Jervis, South AustraliaCape Jervis is a town at the southwestern tip of Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, approximately 108 km south of Adelaide. The population is approximately 300 people and growing rapidly, with a new estate situated behind the main town...
- MypongaMyponga, South AustraliaMyponga is a settlement in South Australia. At the 2006 census, Myponga had a population of 540.-References:One of the first Pioneer Families to Settle the area, was the Family of CON POLDEN & MARY WINDSOR along with their children from Wiltshire SOUTH/WEST ENGLAND.-See also:*Myponga Reservoir...
- NormanvilleNormanville, South AustraliaNormanville is a small rural town near the coast on the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. It is situated next to the mouth of the Bungala River.-Location and geography:...
- Rapid BayRapid Bay, South AustraliaRapid Bay is a small seaside town in the southwest of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. It is approximately 100 km south of the state capital, Adelaide...
- YankalillaYankalilla, South AustraliaYankalilla is an agriculturally-based town situated on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, located 72 km south of the state's capital of Adelaide...
There are a number of smaller towns and moslty uninhabitd areas encompassed by the district. The full list of these is:
Bald Hills, Bullaparinga, Carrickalinga
Carrickalinga, South Australia
Carrickalinga is a small coastal town about 60 km 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.- Location :...
, Deep Creek
Deep Creek Conservation Park
Deep Creek Conservation Park is 45 square kilometres of natural Australian bush land located at the southern end of Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, 11 km east of Cape Jervis. It has spectacular cliffs fronting the Southern Ocean. The total of 18 km of coastline include views across...
, Delamere, Hay Flat, Inman Valley
Inman Valley, South Australia
Inman Valley , is a valley, locality, and township on the Fleurieu Peninsula, around 86 km south of Adelaide. The valley is about 380 square kilometres in area...
, Myponga Beach, Pages Flat, Parawa, Randalsea, Second Valley
Second Valley, South Australia
Second Valley is a coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. At the 2006 census, Second Valley had a population of 171.The name is derived from being the next valley north of Rapid Bay, the initial camp on South Australian mainland of Colonel William Light....
, Sellicks Hill, Silverton, Talisker, Torrens Vale, Tunkalilla, Wattle Flat, Willow Creek and Wirrina Cove.
Elected Members
MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
: Peter Whitford
CEO: Roger Sweetman
Councillors:
- John Hughes
- Mandy Aistrope
- Allan Barnes
- Andrew Gebhardt
- Janet Jones
- John Sanderson
- Malcolm Schlein
- Bruce Spilsbury
Council currently meets twice a month on the first and third Thursday of the month, commencing at 10.00am