People & Places
Aboriginal Peoples
The Yankalilla & District Historical Society (YDHS) supports the cultural, spiritual, ecological and economic regeneration of the Aboriginal peoples of this place. YDHS acknowledges that Aboriginal peoples have occupied this region for several thousand years that we know of, from c7000 years ago. We continue to support activities in the region that will enrich our knowledge of their link to land and culture. more...
During the Heritage Fleurieu Coast Festival 2022, a presentation focusing on Named Aboriginal Places within the Western Fleurieu region offered essential points of reference and valuable resource material.
Wonggayerlo Western sea (Gulf Saint Vincent)
Two Aboriginal males on hill looking at ship in the distance 1870
Photo courtesy: W.A. Cawthorne, State Library of NSW
Early Families in the District
The YDHS researches, collates and publishes information about people and places of the district in a number of ways.
An on-going project of the Society is the development of folders on people and families who have resided in the Yankalilla District in the past. These folders are on open shelves in the Yankalilla Library and can be consulted by anyone interested in the history of any of these families.
People are also encouraged to supply the Society with extra information which can be added to the folders.
There are currently 35 of these folders, with more being prepared. Some of the folders have an accompanying poster. These posters are A2 in size, and are used at various exhibitions and events, and are also displayed at the Yankalilla District Historical Museum.
Rate Assessment Books
YDHS has digital photographs of the Yankalilla District rate assessment books.
The Yankalilla books date from 1856 to 1930 (later books are at State Records), the Myponga books from 1872 to 1888 (after which Myponga came under the District Council of Yankalilla), and Rapid Bay from 1878 to 1889 (which also became part of the District Council of Yankalilla).
The rate assessment books are an invaluable resource for people trying to find out where their ancestors lived.
Community Archives
The Yankalilla & District Historical Society (YDHS) is in the process of setting up a Community Archive.
YDHS currently holds archival material of a number of local organisations and families.
The types of items held include minute books, financial records, correspondence, attendance records, and many other miscellaneous items. These items are being scanned and catalogued, and this catalogue will be added to this web site once completed.
Research Collection
The Society’s Collection includes well over 10,000 digital files, including both documents and photographs.
There are documents covering the history of a variety of subjects relevant to the Yankalilla district; for example, churches and cemeteries, townships, to name but a few.
The Collection also includes a large number of historical photographs, covering all the areas and towns in the Yankalilla district. You can access some of these photographs through the SA Public Library Network (OneCard).
Cemetery Records
One of the very first projects of the Society when first formed was to collect information on the cemeteries in the district from Church Burial Registers, Cemetery and Council Registers, local family histories, SA Death Register, family notices in the newspaper and transcripts of headstones. This information is correct as far as we could ascertain from these sources.
View the register of burials in the district’s old disused cemeteries, which includes the Old Ground of the Yankalilla cemetery or download the PDF Burials in old cemeteries in Yankalilla district.
The Yankalilla and Bullaparinga Cemetery Registers can also be accessed through the website of the Yankalilla District Council, although their records may be incomplete.
Links to the St James and Christ Church Cemeteries will be added as they become available.
Brochures for self-guided walks of selected graves in six cemeteries in the District have been prepared. Hard copies are available at the Fleurieu Coast Visitor Information Centre or can be downloaded.
YDHS Members' Library
YDHS has its own library of books on a variety of subjects relevant to the district, including many family histories.
Most books are available for loan to YDHS members, although some are for reference only, such as the Registers of South Australian Births, Deaths and Marriages.