Hindmarsh Island

History

The island was named by Captain John William Dundas Blenkinsop in 1837 after South Australias first Governor, Sir John Hindmarsh.

In 1849 Doctor Rankine was granted an occupational licence to become the island's first grazer. 1854 Charles Price purchased a large portion of the island.

In the 1850's a flour Mill was constructed. In 1857 a signal mast was erected at Barker Knoll to convey safe passage condition messages to vessels wishing to pass through the mouth. A public ferry began operations between Goolwa and the island in 1858. In the same year the first inter colonial telegraph line passed through the island to link Adelaide with Melbourne. In 1861 the cemetery was surveyed. In 1900 a cheese factory was built.

Hereford cattle and Shropshire sheep arrived in South Australia in 1868, when Charles Price introduced them onto the island.

Hindmarsh Island today has fresh water on its northern shore and salt water on the southern shores. The waters being separated by a series of barrages. As early as 1914 an experimental barrage was constructed to link Hindmarsh Island with Mundoo Island. Construction of the permanent barrages took place between 1935-1940 with the aim of maintaining a consistant water level around the river Port of Goolwa and keeping salt water from the northern shore improving agricultural opportunities.

Mains electricity arrived on the island 1965.

The area to the east of the Murray Mouth of Hindmarsh Island is the beginning of the Coorong National Park.
In November 1985 appoximately 1,405 square kilometres of area around the island was designated as a RAMSAR site of international importance to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wetland areas. In 2001, approximately a third of the island, the 1,081 hectare Wyndgate property, was added to the Coorong National Park.

As of 2005 the Hindmarsh Island Marina boasts the title of the largest freshwater marina in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Hindmash Island Bridge

It was also alledged that the Ngarrindjeri objectors fabricated a cultural significance of the Island (the Secret Women's Business) in order to help fight the development of the bridge. This was never prooven or disprooven, as key evidence was withdrawn when the Minister for Indegenous Affairs (a man) said he would personally view any evidence put foward, even if it was considered women's buisness. A later civil case determined the claims were true on the balance of evidence.