The history of Yongala, a small town in South Australia.
The area was first opened for European settlement in the mid-19th century when the South Australian Government offered pastoral leases to encourage development. The first lease in the region was granted in 1851, covering 42 square miles and known as the Yongala Run.
Proclamation and Growth
The Hundred of Yongala was proclaimed in 1871 as part of the County of Dalhousie, marking a major step toward closer settlement and agriculture. [
The town itself was officially proclaimed on 23 May 1876. Within five years, its population grew to around 353, driven by expectations of a railway connection. However, the railway was ultimately routed through nearby Peterborough, which limited Yongala’s growth.
Economic and Social Development
Yongala became a hub for pastoral activities and small-scale farming. Early settlers were primarily from the UK, Ireland, Poland, and Germany.
Community landmarks include the Yongala Brass Band Rotunda, opened in 1930, and the War Memorial, unveiled in 1921 to honour locals who served in World War I and later World War II.
Connection to SS Yongala
The town lent its name to the SS Yongala, a luxury passenger steamship launched in 1903 by the Adelaide Steamship Company. Tragically, the ship sank during a cyclone off Townsville, Queensland, in 1911, with all 122 people on board lost. Today, the wreck is one of Australia’s most famous dive sites.
Population 1975, 60 | 1990, 65 | 2000, 75 | 2015, 93 |2021, 67.
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