Kangaroo Island Read online

  The mainland South Australian tammar wallaby is currently listed as ‘extinct in the wild.’ This subspecies was driven to extinction on the mainland in the 1920s due to land clearing and predation by cats and foxes. Nocturnal tours at Stranraer will provide a first-hand view of activity when the sun goes down, from kangaroos and wallabies to the elusive possum. Feral cats on Kangaroo Island still pose a threat to this species and birdlife.

  Kelly Hill Caves, east of Flinders Chase, is also a well known attraction for travellers to Kangaroo Island.

  The Island has had its fair share of natural disasters over the years with flooding in 1910 causing extensive damage to new roads and bridges on Kangaroo Island. Kingscote received 37 inches (925mm) of rainfall this year. The average is 20 inches (500mm). In 1910, Stranraer received 30 inches (762mm) of rainfall and this was the year that both the Rush and White lagoons joined with flowing water.

  The Kangaroo Island fires started in a number of locations across the island on December 7th, 2007, due to multiple lightning strikes and damaged some 95000 hectares of land, primarily in the Flinders Chase National Park but Vivonne Bay, D’Estrees Bay and Western River were also severely affected. Flinders Chase was severely affected with over 630 square kilometres damaged by fire, which represents 85% of the park’s area. Total area burnt was 900 square kilometres.

  CHAPTER 2 - Pioneers of the Land

  The early pioneers of agriculture in Australia were primarily immigrants from England who saw Australia as a new opportunity to move and start a new life for their families. The following pioneers were involved in agriculture in Australia and eventually Stranraer, Kangaroo Island. There was not only the move to another country to contend with but the challenges of drought, depression and world wars also impacted on agriculture. The following descendants commenced farming in the mid north of South Australia in an area known as Hydon, Redhill in the 1870s and the difficulty of drought in that particular year was followed by floods in 1871. This must have been a difficult commencement to farming in the mid north, however the family have lived there for over 100 years.

  John Wheaton (father of Frederick) was born on 14/12/1819 and married Ann Carter on 03/04/1848.

  John and Ann made their home at the Chain of Ponds in the Adelaide Hills; the Certificate of Title for Section 6087 was signed in February, 1865. The sections contained approximately 80 acres each. John was elected Councillor for the District of Para Wirra in July, 1867 and retired by ballot the following year.

  In the 1860s land in the mid-north of the state of South Australia, which had been previously leased for grazing purposes, was made available for selection. John Wheaton made his way north and selected 308 acres in the Broughton Agricultural Area No. 4.

  On the 16th April 1870, John Wheaton arrived at Redhill towards dusk. The 308 acres plus another 77 acres was to form the nucleus of the property named Hydon and where, for 111 years, the Wheaton family lived. There was no harvest in 1870 as it was a year of drought. 1871 was known as the year of the big flood as the flood waters extended from the River Broughton to Snowtown and across the mid north of South Australia. This caused many issues especially travel to nearby Clare for services.

  Frederick Wheaton is noted as arriving in the Redhill district in 1872, from Chain of Ponds in the Adelaide Hills, where the family originated, until John had completed a dwelling at Hydon to house the family.

  Additional land was acquired for their three sons to farm. Ann Carter passed away on 25th November 1881 and John continued to farm at Hydon with his daughter Mary.

  Wheat had always been grown at Hydon and with the advent of superphosphate about the turn of the century, yields increased. The first eighteen bushel crop was harvested in 1902.

  John took a journey in 1905 to Dubbo, New South Wales to see his son John Jnr and his family. Certainly, a long trip for a man of 85 years, during which John unfortunately fell from a horse-drawn vehicle, breaking his hip.

  He passed away on 15th May 1905 and is buried in the Dubbo Cemetery.

  Isabella Barr (Willson), born at Parkhead, Lanarkshire, Scotland on March 26th, 1835, married Robert Barr on October 20th, 1854. Mother of Janet Howard (Barr) arrived in South Australia on SS St. Vincent on November 5th, 1874, died May 1st, 1907, buried in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island Cemetery. Grandmother of Mary Wheaton (nee Howard).

  Robert Barr, born at Westlinbank, Lanarkshire, Scotland on December 1st, 1832, married Isabella Willson on October 20th, 1854, father of Janet Howard (Barr). Grandfather to Mary, arrived in South Australia on SS St. Vincent on November 5th, 1874, died April 23rd, 1927, buried at Magill cemetery, Adelaide South Australia.

  William & Janet Howard (nee Barr) parents of Mary Matilda Wheaton

  Golden Wedding Anniversary - September 23rd 1930

  Janet was born in Scotland and was a relatively late arrival into the colony. The eldest daughter of Robert and Isabella Barr, she spent her childhood on a farm 15 miles from Glasgow, until her father decided that the family would immigrate to Australia in 1874. This took some courage at the time with ten children. Janet’s family moved to a property, Alma, near the mid north town of Balaklava, to begin their new life.

  William and Janet were married on September 23rd 1880, Janet was 21 and William 28. After their marriage William and Janet took up land in the mid north of South Australia. Janet’s father, Robert Barr, had found farming very challenging compared to what he was used to back home in Scotland. The land was primitive and harsh. Droughts were bad and in those days there was no superphosphate. Even their best crops had only yielded 4.5 bushels per acre. It took time to grow used to the new conditions in Australia and the Barr family had found their first few years in Australia at Alma an uphill struggle. So much so, that when their daughter and new husband left for land further west they were prepared to try their luck elsewhere as well.

  Hearing of land on Kangaroo Island, William decided to settle instead on a place called Hog Bay where the town Penneshaw had recently been proclaimed and where the land was reputed to be some of the best on the island, capable of growing crops of barley. William decided to set sail for Kangaroo Island without Janet, due to the arrival of their son Andrew Lindsay. William named his new property Balaklava which was where he had just been farming. Janet joined William six weeks later with two young boys. The new property, Balaklava, was four miles from Penneshaw and when Janet arrived at Penneshaw with her family she walked the four miles to begin her new life at Balaklava.

  Janet gave birth to Mary Matilda in 1884, her first child to be born on Kangaroo Island.

  Robert Barr took up the opportunity to purchase land on the Dudley Peninsula. Janet was excited about the prospect of having her parents close to her, rather than the mid north near Balaklava. Robert called his new property South Coast. Janet’s mother, Isabella, having ten children of her own, was to become invaluable as the local midwife.

  At this time William Howard decided to move to Cuttlefish Bay where he had purchased a section of land.

  Frederick & Mary Agnes Wheaton - Parents of Robert Wheaton.

  In 1872 Frederick moved from Kersbrook to Redhill in the mid north of South Australia to commence farming. Frederick and Mary married and farmed in the Redhill district at a property known as Baroota. By 1984 Frederick and his family had moved to a property named Drymma near Redhill and Frederick was also working at Hydon in conjunction with his brother George. Frederick was involved in the Collinsfield Methodist Church and was also a member of the Agricultural Bureau for the district and was awarded life membership in 1912. Frederick was supported in the community by Agnes and they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1932 at Drymma. Frederick passed away in 1933 and Agnes in 1937. Farming provided many challenges, especially the occurrence of failed crops due to drought and personal loss.

  Robert & Mary Wheaton 1935. Robert is the son of Frederick and moved to Kangaroo Island in 1907 to manage a family property however, he never intended to stay but Robert married Mary Howard in 19
10 and farmed on Kangaroo Island for the remainder of his life. Robert and Mary farmed at Stranraer from 1910, the following is part of the history prior to Stranraer.

  Parts of Kangaroo Island were open for pastoral lease in the late 1880s. B & H Taylor had a large area of land taking in land in the Hundred of MacGillivray and Haines extending down to Vivonne Bay.

  * * *

  A Hundred is English terminology, referring to a surveyed section of land. In other areas of Australia a section of land is often known as a ‘shire’ and these form council areas. Kangaroo Island has 12 Hundreds, with MacGillivray been one of the largest.

  * * *

  The Taylor family took up the lease in 1882 and were involved in bringing some 20,000 sheep to Kangaroo Island. This scheme did not work at the time and the lease was cancelled on 13/10/1887.

  The old cottage near the hummocks, which is a ruin now, was built by the Taylor family when the lease was operational by them, in the late 1800’s.

  Charlie Price took up the lease on the 01/01/1890. The area was 16000 acres and the lease payment was 8 pounds per square mile. The Price family designed the first house plan for the property.

  A.C. Burgess took over the lease on 01/07/1896. During 1895 the area was surveyed and the Hundred of MacGillivray was formed. A.C. Burgess was able to retain part of his lease hold which consisted of an area of 3200 acres and became Section 2 MacGillivray.

  This section of land originally was called Adavale, which is Stranraer today, this is the early discussion on Adavale in the early 1900’s. The discussion below is from the Courier newspaper dated June 25th 1910

  Mr and Mrs Burgess raised ten children at Adavale, none of whom required a doctor’s care.

  The property of 3200 acres, when owned by A.C. Burgess, was known as Adavale.

  * * *

  1 hectare is 2.47 acres in today’s metric measurements, thus 3200 acres is 1295 hectares.

  * * *

  The homestead at Adavale is situated on rising ground, and from there a good view of the estate (which comprises 3200 acres of freehold) can be obtained. To the left there is a serried line of curiously formed hummocks which, like the ramparts of a fort looking out to sea, stand guard over White Lagoon - a sheet of salt water - while in front is a long stretch of cleared country - over a good tract of land on which green shoots were already making their way above the cultivated areas. This year Mr Burgess is putting in 150 acres of wheat (principally of the Gallant’s Hybrid and Federation varieties) barley and oats. Mr Burgess by the way has always secured top price for his wheat and has sown that cereal every year since he first ‘pitched camp’ at Adavale.

  A wander through the garden revealed where cauliflowers, carrots, turnips, tomatoes and other vegetables were showing vigorous growth. The first paddock of 90 acres was comprised of alluvial flats principally. Continuing in a south to south westerly course from the house, a 30 acre paddock was passed through. This paddock was under melilotus (a legume plant). Mr Burgess stated the melilotus would be up to the height of a man’s waist. It is in this month that Adavale would be at it’s best, although the property carries fair feed all year round. This paddock gave Mr Burgess a return of 4 tonnes of hay to the acre 5 years ago. It might be mentioned here that the owner of Adavale not only grows his own horse-feed but disposes of quantities of hay by giving it to his neighbours.

  A fine cultivated paddock of 100 acres (now under stubble) was next transversed and in passing over it, even a novice could perceive the ease with which the land could be worked, and the facilities offered to farming implements of all descriptions, to get over the ground smoothly. On portions of this, potatoes were grown last year at the rate of 8 tons per acre.

  Retracing our steps Mr Burgess, on the return journey, referred to an article he had seen recently, with reference to seaweed as a fertiliser. He stated that he had tried experiments with seaweed and had met with success. Seeing that (as we were informed) there were hundreds of thousands of tones of seaweed on the beach within 7 miles of White Lagoon (D’Estrees Bay) there should be great possibilities lying in the direction of an intensive and cheap system of agriculture on this part of the Island, and certainly on Adavale alone there is room for a number of families.

  Another stage of the trip was negotiated and White Lagoon Park (now Rush Lagoon), a 260 acre section of Adavale worked by one of Mr Burgess’s sons, was inspected. At the park, 70 bushels of oats per acre and 30 of barley were taken off last year. Here, as on other portions of the estate, there is an abundance of fresh water. Rush lagoon is a valuable asset in this respect.

  Sixteen years ago Mr Burgess held 16,000 acres, but, when the lease reverted to the Crown, he secured 3200 acres as freehold. The country was previously held by Mr Price. Mr Burgess started operations with a set plough, two horses, one spreader and 600 sheep. From the first years cultivation he secured from 25 to 30 bushels per acre.

  * * *

  A bushel was originally a measure of capacity of grain. 1 bushel of wheat = 60 pounds (lbs)

  1 pound = .454kg, 36.74 bushels of wheat = 1 metric ton, 1 bushel of wheat will make 73 loaves of bread.

  The conversion into kilograms is 1 bushel = 27.24 kg.

  60 bushels of wheat per acre = 1.63 tonnes per acre, which is 4.03 tonnes per hectare of wheat

  1 bushel of barley = 48 pounds (lbs)

  Most agricultural grain yield measurements today are kilograms per hectare.

  * * *

  The second year he again cultivated, still using a set plough. Without manure he realised from 25 to 30 bushels per acre. In fact, for the first 6 years he did not use manure. About the seventh year he started on fertilisers. He informed us that he had grown up to 70 bushels of oats per acre, up to 60 bushels of wheat (on fallow land) per acre and up to 40 bushels of barley. He has gone in considerably for the sowing of yorkshire fog, cocksfoot and ryegrasses which should greatly extend the carrying capacity of the property. About 1000 sheep are now running on Adavale and 20 head of horses.

  The Taylor family operated the land known as Stranraer back in the 1870s. 20,000 sheep were brought to the island and were run on MacGillivray country and also on land on the western end of the island. A large percentage of these sheep suffered ‘Coastal Disease’ and died. This copper and cobalt deficiency issue was to become very important to sheep management on Kangaroo Island. These sheep were shipped to the island in small boats. Mount Taylor on the western end of Kangaroo Island is named after the pioneering efforts of the Taylor family back in the 1870s.

  Robert Wheaton was born at Collinsfield on January 3rd, 1886 and his early years and schooling were in the Redhill district, which is in the mid north of South Australia.

  He attended Roseworthy College from 1903 to 1906 and gained his Diploma of Agriculture.

  In 1907, Robert went to Kangaroo Island to manage the property named Kiowie near the Salt Lake. On the island he met Mary Howard, who lived with her family on a farm near Cuttlefish Bay which is near Penneshaw.

  Robert and Mary were married on January 27th, 1910 in the Penneshaw Methodist Church and made their first home at Kiowie.

  The following year they purchased a property in the Hundred of MacGillivray and Stranraer became their home for the next 40 years. It was there that their five children were born. A house, ‘Wattle Grove,’ on their farm was used by the education department for a school and a room 12’ x 12’ became the church where families of the district shared alternate Methodist and Church of England Services.

  MacGillivray was a community extending to over ten families and the bonds of friendship have continued through life and on to the following generations. Visits between neighbours were always welcome with a sharing of the farm and garden products, flowers and plants.

  Robert’s knowledge of veterinary practices was often in demand and when a neighbour came for help with a sick animal, the two would ride off on horseback with the necessary medicine.

  It was 1924 when Robert bought his first car, a Rugby a
nd the coming of new transport brought many changes to the farms, eighteen miles from Kingscote, the nearest town.

  Keenly interested in local affairs and matters for the promotion of Kangaroo Island, Robert was elected to the Kingscote District Council in 1913. He served for a total of twenty six years and was Chairman for twelve years. Robert’s many interests included the establishment of the nursing home and later a hospital in Kingscote, the Kangaroo Island Agricultural and Horticultural Show and the making of the show grounds, also the development of the Soldiers Memorial Park and he was a founding member of the MacGillivray Agricultural Bureau in 1911.

  Robert was Secretary of the Methodist Church Trust for over thirty years and was Circuit Steward for thirty years. Keen on sport, he played cricket and football and later was Chairman of the Kingscote Bowling Club and supervised the establishing of the rinks and club house. He was Justice of the Peace for more than thirty years.

  At MacGillivray, Mr Wheaton was instrumental in the clearing of land and setting out an oval and cricket pitch there, as discussed in chapter 9.

  In all these activities Robert was ably supported by Mary, who also had her own interests in the Country Women’s Association, Methodist Ladies Guild, Kingscote Show and Ladies Bowling Club, Red Cross and Forces Comfort Funds.

  In 1950 Robert and Mary moved to live in Kingscote, where their home became ‘open house’ for their family and friends from the farms.