sign-in
Home
/
Mallee - Part 2
/
Image 136
Mallee - Part 2
Image 136
image 47 of 89
If you need a symbol, fraction or a wider dash please highlight, copy (Ctrl C) and paste (Ctrl V): £ — ¼ ½ ¾ ⅓ ⅔ ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞ ⊚ 🡹 /|\
APPENDIX No. 8 Report on Visit of Commission to the Eastern States. South Australia The Commission left Fremantle by the s.s. Zealandia on the 3rd March, and upon arrival in Adelaide conferred with the Hon. the Premier (Mr. C Vaughan) and the Hon. the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. C Goode), as well as the principal officers of the Lands Department. Complimentary rail passes were granted by the Government, and a motor car supplied at a nominal cost for the purpose of visits to districts not served by the railways. The principal mallee districts of the State were inspected, four tours being made as shown hereunder:— (a) Yorke Peninsula, leaving Adelaide and travelling via Gawler, Roseworthy, Mallala, Balaklava, Snowtown, Bute, Kadina, Wallaroo, Moonta, Maitland, Mount Rat, Minlaton, Yorketown, Edithburg, thence via Port Vincent, Ardrossan, Wakefield, Inkerman, Windsor, Dublin, Two Wells, Virginia, to Adelaide. (b) West Coast from Port Lincoln via Wangary, Warrow, Lake Hamilton, Elliston, Colton, Talia, Streaky Bay, Poochera, Chilpanunda, Petina, Pimbaacla, Nargultie, Yantanabie, Cungena, Condada, Minnpa Yaninee, Mount Damper, Kolballa, Elliston, Sheringa, Mount Hope, Yeelana, Cummins, Kapinka, Lipson, Warrata, Tumby Bay, Yalluna, Koppio, Tod River, North Shields to Port Lincoln. (c) Loxton Distrcit, via Milbrook, Gumeracha, Blumberg, Mount Pleasant, Rhine Villa, Sedan, Swan Beach, Bakara, Mantung, Veitch, Taplan to Loxton by road, returning thence to Adelaide by rail. (d) Pinnaroo District, including Lameroo, Parilla, and Pinnaroo. York Peninsula A good deal of the country passed through of the Yorke Peninsula trip, especially from the Bute onwards, appeared to be very similar to that at Grass Patch. The shortage of stock was noticeable, accounted for by the drought of 1914. Good crops and heavy stubble fields were general. Practically all the farms are provided with water reticulated from the Barossa, Beetaloo, and Bundaleer schemes. A small plot of lucerne and vegetables irrigated by artesian water was inspected at Balaklava. The country practically all the way from Adelaide is a continuation of farm lands carved out of mallee scrub. The roads were remarkably well kept. The wheat stacks at Wallaroo wharf were inspected, Mr. White informing the Commission that there were ready for shipment 848,520 bags of old wheat and 542,429 of this season's grain. In the Wallaroo district crop returns of up to 40 bushels were not uncommon this year. The growth of mallee scrub from Moonta southwards resembles that seen about Swan Lagoon. At the various landing stages along the coast large stacks of wheat gave evidence of a satisfactory harvest having been experienced. At the southern end of the Peninsula, especially in the hundreds of Curramulka and Muloowurtie, a big stretch of scrub land, bearing a striking likeness to thousands of acres in the Esperance mallee belt, was traversed, the main road dividing virgin land from cultivated paddocks and thus affording a good opportunity for comparison. Heaps of mallee roots were noticed at the various ports and it was ascertained that there is a ready market for such fuel in Adelaide, 7s. or 8s. a ton being paid at the place of shipment. At Ardrossan the Commission met representative farmers, including Messrs. J. E. Smith and G. Denham. It was learned that the general practice after the eradication of suckers, or shoots, is to plough to a depth of two or three inches for fallow and then to cultivate four or five times during the summer months before seedling. The importance of thorough cultivation was stressed. The average rainfall in the Ardrossan district is about 12 inches. Seed and super. to the extend of 60lbs. and 112lbs. respectively, were used as a rule, such wheats as Yandilla King, Silver King, red King, and Federation being favoured. the land passed through north of Ardrossan borders on Gulf of St. Vincent and is of a marshy nature, with occasional good saltbush patches. At the various centres visited local residents were interviewed and information obtained as to farming methods, early experiences, and other data likely to be of service to the Commission. West Coast On the West Coast tour the Commission did not find the land lying between Port Lincoln and Streaky Bay of much interest. Up to Wangary the country is of poor stony character. At Lake Hamilton an old established sheep station was passed; the surrounding country presented a barren appearance with little or no no feed for stock. The timber was principally shea-oak, and a noteworthy feature of this class of country is that sheep live chiefly on the shea-oak leaves in the summer. A limited amount of farming is done near Tahlia, produce being shipped from Port Kenny. About seven or eight miles before reaching Streaky Bay open country is encountered timbered with big black mallee and ti-tree, and this class of country continues for some miles beyond Streaky Bay. The best country seen during the day was at Poochera, where Messrs. Hancock Borthers have a large holding consisting of good open grassy plains, water being procured from wells. They have so far cleared 2,000 acres. Near by is the Government tank at Chilpanunda. This is a well constructed concrete reservoir with iron roof and is intended for the use of settlers and teams. Further on, at Petina, where the party stayed overnight, there is a Government well. The water is salty but is used by stock. The country hereabouts although good has a dry appearance. It is about nine miles in a direct line from the seaboard. A few miles further on is Wirrula where the average annual rainfall is 13 — 88 inches. The journey from Wirrula to Minnepa was made by rail. Alternating good and poor country was passed through. At Minnepa a State farm has been established about two years, and over that period the rainfall average has been about 15 inches. A fairer general average would be 12 inches. From 300 acres of grubbed land this year an average of 28 bushels was obtained. Fuller information respecting soil, rainfalls, yields, and cultivation methods at the State farms will be found elsewhere in the Appendix. Water is supplied by a dam constructed on an extensive granite outcrop near the farm and built of concrete, with iron roof, at a cost about £2,000. Another large reservoir supplies water for railway purposes, but eventually it is intended to reticulate the district from the Tod River Scheme. The country is well grassed, the spear variety predominantly. Generally speaking, the country presented a dry appearance and undoubtedly the main drawback at present is the water supply. The farming implements and machinery as well as hay stacks and stock on the State farm were inspected, the manager (Mr. Cook) furnishing much valuable information. His hospitality to members whilst at Minnepa was highly appreciated. The Commission then proceeded by road to Elliston, 80 miles distant. The first section traversed was good pine country followed by a stretch of poor stony land covered with dense scrub and generally speaking of low average quality, until within about 30 miles of the coast, where shea-oak land is again encountered. The next place visited was Sheringa where Mr. Gunn's old established station is situated. Mr. Gunn entertained and accompanied the party on its local inspection and furnished much useful information concerning his experiences in the district. The country is of limestone formation with water easily procurable from shallow wells. It is pastoral district, the timber being principally shea-oak. The next stopping place was Mount Hope, which is the terminus of the railway from Port Lincoln. A detour was then made through the Yeelanna and Cummins districts. The country is generally speaking, covered with small mallee. These have a heavier rainfall than the adjoining districts and small crops are usual. Suckers give a lot of trouble and the mallee takes some time to eradicate. Good grass was noticed, and no doubt the district will experience better yields later on. Mr. Siever's farm was visited and mallee farming implements inspected. The country here becomes more hilly and gives better grazing. The Mortlock Estate at Yullana was reached that night, the manager (Mr. Whyte) kindly extending the hospitality of his home to the Commission. A 15 miles tour was made of the surrounding country, which is good farming land, all cleared. Splendid crops have been obtained here, as high as 36 bushels per acre having been reaped this season. At Yalluna the virgin land present anything but an inviting appearance and is destitute of natural feed, whilst the cultivated lands give
Save edits
prev
|
next
|
all images
|
history