A beautiful and historic cottage in the Curramulka area

Curramulka
Tiny settlement in the heart of the Yorke Peninsula
The tiny township of Curramulka is located 186 km west of Adelaide via Highway One and the main coast road along the eastern side of the Yorke Peninsula. It is a tiny township which is successfully fighting against the economic difficulties many rural towns have experienced over the past decade. Curramulka is part of a busy farming community and is steadily growing. This can be seen at the Curramulka Primary school which is currently experiencing a major increase in its student enrolment.

It is said that the town's name was derived from the local Aboriginal words 'gorry' meaning 'emu' and 'moolka' meaning 'stone watering holes'. J. Howard Johnson, who wrote a vocabulary of the Yorke Peninsula Aborigines questioned this interpretation arguing that if the name was basically 'emu watering hole' then 'the emus had long necks as it is over 100 feet (30 metres) deep, I believe. The stone waterhole is on Mr May's property at the corner of the Mount Rat road, and is about forty to fifty yards from the road. It is a rough square in the limestone rock, and would hold 200 to 300 gallons. This would only contain water after a heavy shower. I believe it is or was used for pickling wheat in.' Another person claimed that the description was appropriate and it referred to small holes (almost saucer-like holes) which filled with water and did allow emus to drink. Whatever the case Governor Jervois did choose the word 'curramulka' when he named the area.

The beach at Port Vincent 15 km from Curramulka

There were early runs for farmers and these were opened up and sold to farmers in 1874. The town was gazetted in 1878 and a post office was established in 1885. By 1895 Port Julia was operating as the main port in the area and Curramulka had become an important service centre. This situation changed when Ardrossan, further north, became the main port for the local wheat and sheep industry with bulk grain handling facilities being established in 1952.

	Hotels
	Hotel Curramulka Main St Curramulka SA 5580 Telephone: (08) 8854 2008
	Restaurants
	Hotel Curramulka Main St Curramulka SA 5580 Telephone: (08) 8854 2008