Undalya, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Undalya is the name of a small rural farming village located on the southern edge of the Clare Valley
, in the mid north of the state of South Australia
. It is located on Main North Road
approximately halfway between the towns of Auburn
and Rhynie
. To the east lies the town of Saddleworth
and to the far south-west lies the town of Balaklava
. The village is also located at the junction of the River Wakefield
and Pine Creek. The town was officially gazetted as Undalya in 1859.
and means "water holes", while the surrounding district was known as Kercoonda meaning "camp near water". In the early years of the village, Aborigines were in great numbers in the district.
On one of his expeditions, explorer Edward John Eyre
camped at Undalya and commented on the large amount of water in the River Wakefield as well as the availability of the local blue limestone
.
The most notable feature of the village is the local bridge
which crosses the River Wakefield. Built in 1855, with various alterations, additions and repairs, the bridge is known locally by three names: Basket Bridge, Cradle Bridge or Coathanger Bridge. It has taken the full force of many floods and at one time was the biggest one-span bridge in South Australia. The bridge was bypassed with a new bridge slightly to the east of it in the 1950s and today only serves the local residents.
In 1859, a local farmer sold one quarter of an acre for a Bible Christian Church. The Church was built in 1859 and the next year a school inside it commenced. Both were open for nearly 100 years. Today the building is part of a private residence.
In 1866, with a grant of money and land from another local farmer, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Patrick was built by the Jesuit Fathers of Sevenhill
on the hill just south of the village. The Church closed in 1915 and was later demolished. Attached to the church was a graveyard, which is still an open cemetery today. Buried in the graveyard is Patrick Michael Ryan, who in 1861, discovered at Tippara, the copper
which was the start of the famous Moonta mine. Another buried there is the first wife of the father of Auburn
poet C.J. Dennis.
One of the biggest local industries during the 19th century was that of wool-scouring, or wool-washing in the River Wakefield. One such example is that of George Henry Michell, who in 1870, after living at Cudlee Creek, where he acquired the art of wool-scouring, moved his family to Undalya. There, he persuaded some local farmers to sell their wool directly to him. The wool was processed in the river and packed off to Adelaide
and then shipped off to London
and auctioned. His operation was hugely successful and in 1896 he was forced to move to Hindmarsh
near Adelaide
. Today, Michell
is a large multi-national company, run by descendants of George Henry Michell. The company's factory is located on Main North Road
at Salisbury
South. The Michell homestead at Undalya still stands today but as an animal shelter.
Living at Undalya in the mid-to-late 19th century were the ancestors of SANFL footballer and Australian Football Hall Of Fame
member Neil Kerley
.
In the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, according to the newspaper
s of the time, Undalya was a thriving rural village with reports of plough
ing matches, horse racing
and even a shooting at the local hotel
, where the owner shot a customer who, on being refused service, jumped the counter to serve himself!
Today the village is nothing more than a collection of a few houses around a rarely used bridge.
, the State Electoral District of Frome
, and the Australian House of Representatives
Division of Wakefield
.
Clare Valley
The Clare Valley is one of Australia's oldest wine regions, best known for Riesling wines. It lies in the Mid North of South Australia, approximately 120 km north of Adelaide. The valley runs north-south, with Main North Road as the main thoroughfare....
, in the mid north of the state of 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...
. It is located on Main North Road
Main North Road
Main North Road is the major north-south arterial route north of the city of Adelaide, South Australia.From the Adelaide city centre, it passes through the Adelaide Parklands and the suburbs of Thorngate, Medindie, Medindie Gardens, Nailsworth, Prospect, Sefton Park, Blair Athol and Enfield before...
approximately halfway between the towns of Auburn
Auburn, South Australia
Auburn is the name of a small town in the southern edge of the Clare Valley, in the Mid North of South Australia.-History:Often considered the Gateway to the Clare Valley, Auburn was originally settled by William Tateham, who lived in a dugout along the Wakefield River and was first named...
and Rhynie
Rhynie, South Australia
Rhynie is a small town in South Australia, halfway between Tarlee and Auburn, along the Main North Road. It was surveyed and founded in 1859.The town is located within the District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys area.-References:...
. To the east lies the town of Saddleworth
Saddleworth, South Australia
Saddleworth is a small town in the Mid North region of South Australia. The town is situated on the Gilbert River and along with neighbouring towns of Riverton, Rhynie and Tarlee the local area is known as the Gilbert Valley. The town in bisected by the Barrier Highway...
and to the far south-west lies the town of Balaklava
Balaklava, South Australia
The town of Balaklava is located in South Australia, 92 kilometres north of Adelaide in the Mid North region. It is on the banks of the Wakefield River, 25 kilometres east of Port Wakefield.-History:...
. The village is also located at the junction of the River Wakefield
Wakefield River
The Wakefield River, is part of an estuary located in South Australia. It is an ephemeral river that usually flows only when there are significant rains. The town of Balaklava is located along the lower reaches of the river....
and Pine Creek. The town was officially gazetted as Undalya in 1859.
Meaning
The name Undalya was given by the local AboriginesIndigenous 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....
and means "water holes", while the surrounding district was known as Kercoonda meaning "camp near water". In the early years of the village, Aborigines were in great numbers in the district.
History And Events
Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre was an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and a controversial Governor of Jamaica....
camped at Undalya and commented on the large amount of water in the River Wakefield as well as the availability of the local blue limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
.
The most notable feature of the village is the local bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
which crosses the River Wakefield. Built in 1855, with various alterations, additions and repairs, the bridge is known locally by three names: Basket Bridge, Cradle Bridge or Coathanger Bridge. It has taken the full force of many floods and at one time was the biggest one-span bridge in South Australia. The bridge was bypassed with a new bridge slightly to the east of it in the 1950s and today only serves the local residents.
In 1859, a local farmer sold one quarter of an acre for a Bible Christian Church. The Church was built in 1859 and the next year a school inside it commenced. Both were open for nearly 100 years. Today the building is part of a private residence.
In 1866, with a grant of money and land from another local farmer, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Patrick was built by the Jesuit Fathers of Sevenhill
Sevenhill, South Australia
The town of Sevenhill is in the Clare Valley region of South Australia, approximately 130 km north of Adelaide. It was settled by the Austrian Jesuit Fathers and Brothers in 1848...
on the hill just south of the village. The Church closed in 1915 and was later demolished. Attached to the church was a graveyard, which is still an open cemetery today. Buried in the graveyard is Patrick Michael Ryan, who in 1861, discovered at Tippara, the copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
which was the start of the famous Moonta mine. Another buried there is the first wife of the father of Auburn
Auburn, South Australia
Auburn is the name of a small town in the southern edge of the Clare Valley, in the Mid North of South Australia.-History:Often considered the Gateway to the Clare Valley, Auburn was originally settled by William Tateham, who lived in a dugout along the Wakefield River and was first named...
poet C.J. Dennis.
One of the biggest local industries during the 19th century was that of wool-scouring, or wool-washing in the River Wakefield. One such example is that of George Henry Michell, who in 1870, after living at Cudlee Creek, where he acquired the art of wool-scouring, moved his family to Undalya. There, he persuaded some local farmers to sell their wool directly to him. The wool was processed in the river and packed off 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...
and then shipped off to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and auctioned. His operation was hugely successful and in 1896 he was forced to move to Hindmarsh
Hindmarsh
Hindmarsh may refer to* John Hindmarsh, the first Governor of South Australia after whom the following places are named** Division of Hindmarsh, an electoral division for the Australian House of Representatives...
near 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...
. Today, Michell
Michell Pty Ltd
Michell Pty Ltd is a wool processing and tanning company based in Adelaide, South Australia.Founded in 1870 in the Mid North town of Undalya by George Henry Michell, the company moved to the Adelaide suburb of Hindmarsh in 1896 and then again to the current site on Main North Road, Salisbury South...
is a large multi-national company, run by descendants of George Henry Michell. The company's factory is located on Main North Road
Main North Road
Main North Road is the major north-south arterial route north of the city of Adelaide, South Australia.From the Adelaide city centre, it passes through the Adelaide Parklands and the suburbs of Thorngate, Medindie, Medindie Gardens, Nailsworth, Prospect, Sefton Park, Blair Athol and Enfield before...
at Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
South. The Michell homestead at Undalya still stands today but as an animal shelter.
Living at Undalya in the mid-to-late 19th century were the ancestors of SANFL footballer and Australian Football Hall Of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
member Neil Kerley
Neil Kerley
Donald Neil Kerley OAM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. Known to his mates as either Neil or Knuckles and to South Australian football fans as King Kerley or simply "Kerls", he is best known for taking three clubs to four SANFL premierships over three decades as both a...
.
In the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, according to the newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s of the time, Undalya was a thriving rural village with reports of plough
Plough
The plough or plow is a tool used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture...
ing matches, horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and even a shooting at the local hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
, where the owner shot a customer who, on being refused service, jumped the counter to serve himself!
Today the village is nothing more than a collection of a few houses around a rarely used bridge.
Governance
Undalya is in the District Council of Clare and Gilbert ValleysDistrict Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys
The District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys is a local government administrative body located in the wine growing central south region of South Australia...
, the State Electoral District of Frome
Electoral district of Frome
Frome is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after Edward Charles Frome, the third surveyor-general of South Australia. The electorate is based around the industrial city of Port Pirie and the agriculture areas of Clare and Gilbert...
, and the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
Division of Wakefield
Division of Wakefield
The Division of Wakefield is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of South Australia. It is located north of Adelaide, incorporating the outer northern suburbs of Salisbury and Elizabeth, and extending north as far as Clare. It covers the east coast of the Gulf St Vincent north of...
.