Port Neill, South Australia

Port Neill
South Australia

Lady Kinnaird anchor on the Foreshore at Port Neill
Port Neill
Population: 152[1]
Established: 1903
Postcode: 5604
Elevation: 0 m (0 ft)
Location: 576 km (358 mi) West of Adelaide
LGA: District Council of Tumby Bay
State District: Flinders
Federal Division: Grey

Port Neill is a small coastal town on the eastern side of the Eyre Peninsula, in South Australia about 3km off the Lincoln Highway between the major towns of Whyalla and Port Lincoln. It is 576 km by road from Adelaide.

The town offers protected beaches for swimming, as well as providing a venue for fishing, boating, sailing, skiing or skin-diving.[2]

Contents

History

Matthew Flinders passed by and reported on 7 March 1802 of 'low front land, somewhat sandy, with raised land inland and of a barren appearance, its elevation diminishing to the northward.' The explorer Edward John Eyre passed through the area in 1840. The first settlers arrived in 1873 when John Tennant and his son Andrew took up land around the bay, then known as Mottled Cove.[3]

The town was first called Carrow and was gazetted in 1903 and laid out in January 1909 by surveyor William Greig Evans.[4] The name 'Carrow' came from an Aboriginal word relating to a soakage rock hole.[5] Some confusion was caused by the similarity of the name to the locality of Warrow (near Coulta on south-western Eyre Peninsula) and the town was renamed Port Neill on 19 September 1940. The name of the town honours a Warden of the Marine Board, Andrew Sinclair Neill.[6][3]

The first jetty was built in 1912 to ship wheat and wool from the district. It was noted in the Observer in June 1910 that settlers in the Hundred of Butler and the district adjoining Mottled Cove were 'anxiously awaiting some movement towards the long promised jetty at that port'. The settlers were suffering greater disadvantages of shipping facilities than most other parts of the west coast at this time.[7] Once the jetty was built, shipments continued until 1970, when shipments by road to Port Lincoln's larger harbour facilities and grain silos commenced. It was noted at the time of construction that the jetty was the largest on the Eyre Peninsula.[6]

The Lady Kinnaird Anchor and a World War II cannon are situated on the foreshore lawns which provide an ideal family picnic spot. The Lady Kinnaird was an iron barque carrying a load of wheat from Port Pirie to the United Kingdom which struck rocks off Cape Burr on January 20, 1880 and foundered and broke up. All aboard were rescued. The timbers from the vessel were salvaged and used to support a large galvanised roof to collect rain water into tanks for the use of wayfarers and travelling stock. These tanks became known as the Lady Kinnaird tanks and were situated a few miles north of Port Neill.

Geography

Port Neill is situated nearly half-way along the western side of Spencer Gulf in Mottled Cove (Dutton Bay), approximately an hour's drive north-east of Port Lincoln, and 20 minutes from Tumby Bay. The surrounding region of Port Neill mostly consists of agricultural land, and the coast contains a mixture of white, sandy beaches, vegetated dunes and rocky points.

In 1909, surveyor William Grieg Evans noted that the area was covered with "low mallee teatree and bushes... light sandy loam red clay over limestone".[4] He described it as "slightly undulating country",[8] which meant the land had a wavelike appearance and form.

Geology

The rocks in Port Neill are of great interest to geologists, as they give prime examples of the Kalinjala Mylonite Zone, and an idea of the processes that occurred 20km below the surface. Some of the oldest rocks date back to 1850 million years ago, and comprise granite gneisses, amphibolites, and rocks known as pegmatite.[9]

Economy

The Port Neill jetty and goods shed indicate the town's past as a once busy seaport.[10][2] Today, much of Port Neill's economy is derived from the surrounding agricultural districts, with cereal crops and sheep prominently farmed.

Like many coastal towns of the Eyre Peninsula, Port Neill is a well established tourist destination, with town numbers swelling during summer holidays. As well as its history, Port Neill offers a laid back country atmosphere and a number of recreational activities.

Fishing is popular from the town jetty, the surrounding beaches and from boats, with boat launching facilities available.[2] A number of other watersports including swimming and snorkelling are on offer in the clean sandy bay.

The town has a number of accommodation options, including the Port Neill Hotel,[11] caravan park and various holiday flats and apartments.[12][3][2]

Community

Demographics

At the time of the 2006 census, Port Neill's population in the town proper was 152, with another 209 in the surrounding district.[13] The vast majority were Australian born and of those that immigrated, all came from the United Kingdom. The most common responses for religious affiliation in the town was Uniting Church 20.4%, Anglican 16.4%, No Religion 15.8%, Catholic 13.2% and Christian, nfd 6.6%.[1]

Facilities

Port Neill has several sporting clubs and recreational facilities, including an oval, tennis and basketball courts, bowling green and golf course,[2] skatepark and a playground on the foreshore.[10]

In its past the early established town boasted three general stores, butcher's, saddler's, blacksmith's and baker's shops[6]. Today the town currently provides a general store and post office, hotel and pub, and several tourism-based shops. Various walking trails, parks and lookouts are also dotted throughout the area.[10]

A small primary school services the town,[14] which caters from Reception to Year 7.

Gallery

References

  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics. "2006 Census QuickStats: Port Neill (Suburb)". http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ProductSelect?newproducttype=QuickStats&btnSelectProduct=View+QuickStats+%3E&collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC44706&geography=&method=&productlabel=&producttype=&topic=&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&breadcrumb=LP&topholder=0&leftholder=0&currentaction=201&action=401&textversion=false. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  2. ^ a b c d e About Australia. "Port Neill". http://www.about-australia.com/south-australia/eyre-peninsula/destinations/port-neill/. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  3. ^ a b c Sydney Morning Herald (2004-02-08). "Port Neill". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/South-Australia/Port-Neill/2005/02/17/1108500204610.html. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  4. ^ a b Plan of Hundred of Dixson, pg16, Land Titles Office, South Australia
  5. ^ Manning Index of South Australia. "Carrow". http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/pn/c/c3.htm#carrow. Retrieved 2011-05-12. 
  6. ^ a b c Manning Index of South Australia. "Port Neill". http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/pn/n/n2.htm#neillP. Retrieved 2011-05-12. 
  7. ^ Manning Index of South Australia. "Dutton". http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/pn/d/d5.htm#dutton. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
  8. ^ Plan of Hundred of Dixson, pg15, Land Titles Office, South Australia
  9. ^ District Council of Tumby Bay. "The Geology of Port Neill". http://www.tumbybay.com/pdf/pngeology.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-25. 
  10. ^ a b c District Council of Tumby Bay. "Attractions in Port Neill". http://www.tumbybay.com/attractpn.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  11. ^ G'Day Pubs. "Port Neill Hotel". http://www.gdaypubs.com.au/SA/port+neill.html. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  12. ^ District Council of Tumby Bay. "Accommodation in Port Neill". http://www.tumbybay.com/accommportneill.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  13. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics. "2006 Census QuickStats: 5604 (Postal Area)". http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ProductSelect?newproducttype=QuickStats&btnSelectProduct=View+QuickStats+%3E&collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=POA5604&geography=&method=&productlabel=&producttype=&topic=&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&breadcrumb=LP&topholder=0&leftholder=0&currentaction=201&action=401&textversion=false. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  14. ^ Department of Education & Children's Services. "Port Neill Primary School". http://www.ptneill.sa.edu.au/. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 

External links