The first European to see the land around modern day Wallaroo was Matthew Flinders who sailed by on 15 March, 1802 and commented that 'the immediate coast ... which extends several leagues to the north of the point, is low and sandy, but a few miles back it rises to a level land of moderate elevation, and is not ill-clothed with small trees.'

The first land settlement in the area occurred when Robert Miller took up 104 square miles of land in 1851 which he used for sheep grazing. By 1857 Walter Watson Hughes had taken over the lease. It is claimed that the town got its name from the Aboriginal words 'wadla waru' (some sources say this means 'wallaby piss' or, more politely, 'wallaby urine') which were changed to 'Walla Waroo' which was the name Hughes gave to his land. It is claimed that Walla Waroo was shortened to Wallaroo because the longer name could not be stencilled on wool bales.

The land in the area was scrubby mulga country which was difficult to work. Its future was assured when two of Hughes' shepherds - James Boor and Patrick Ryan - found copper. Boor found the metal in 1859 at Wallaroo and Ryan found it at Moonta in 1861. Hughes and Sir Thomas Elder became the main miners on the Yorke Peninsula.

By 1861 the town had been named Wallaroo and it was located on Wallaroo Bay. It was formally proclaimed in 1862.

Although copper mining was important in the area the real basis for Wallaroo's continuing prosperity was its role as a port. From 1861 until 1923 it was the most important port in the Yorke Peninsula copper triangle and until the establishment of the smelters at Port Pirie in the 1890s it was the largest and most important port on Spencer Gulf. This development was partially due to the establishment of a horse-drawn tramway from Kadina in 1862 and from Moonta in 1866. It was also connected to Adelaide in 1880.

A jetty was constructed at Wallaroo in 1861. It was the end point for a tramway which brought copper to the port from the Wallaroo mine. Not only did the ships take copper from the port but they brought foodstuffs, timber, coal and mining equipment to the port.

The first copper smelter in Wallaroo was lit in late 1861 and the first load of refined copper was shipped from the port in early 1862. By 1868 the operation had grown to such a point that over 100 tons of copper was being produced per week by a number of smelters around the township. These smelters were burning over 1000 tons of coal and employing more than 200 people.

The importance of copper was vital to the entire region and saw a huge influx of people. By 1865 Wallaroo had a population of around 3000 and this rose to 4000 in the 1909 and 5000 by the early 1920s.

In spite of this population boom it seems that the local Aborigines were treated reasonably well. As late as 1888 a traveller was able to report on the 'satisfactory condition of the natives generally ... they have been well behaved and healthy, only suffering occasionally from severe colds'. Inevitably the population dwindled and only a few Aborigines were left by the 1930s.

When the local smelter closed in 1923 the town went into decline so that today it only has a little over 2000 people but it has survived because of its importance as a centre for grain shipping, its tourist appeal.

Inevitably, as copper became less important, the town began to diversify. At various times between the 1890s and the 1920s it smelted gold and lead, produced lead strips, distilled sulphuric acid and manufactured superphosphate. By 1910 a Bessemer converter had been installed but by 1923, due to low prices for copper, the whole operation had been closed down. Both Hughes and Sir Thomas Elder had made fortunes. Part of Hughes fortune went to establishing the University of Adelaide.

Today the main industries associated with the town includes Top Fertilizers and Agricultural Products as well as the grain handling facilities. The town still has the sense of being an active port. As you enter the town you are confronted with a main street with rail lines crisscrossing as they make their way to the port. The town is characterised by some really lovely old hotels and homes.

Things to see

Heritage Trail
The best way to explore all of Wallaroo's attractions is to purchase a copy of Discovering Historic Wallaroo which includes both a Heritage and a Walking Trail. The Heritage Walk includes:

The Old Post Office
Built in 1865 it served firstly as a Post office (1865-1910) then was used by the Police Department until 1975 when it was given to the National Trust. Located in the centre of town it is now the National Trust Maritime Museum housing a display of maritime, smelting, communication and local history artefacts. It proudly announces that it has the largest pictorial display of sailing ships in any museum in South Australia. It is open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and school holidays 10.30 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. Public holidays 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.

The Assay House
Built in 1873 it carried out up to 4000 separate assays each year and was connected to the town's three major chimneys.

Customs House
Built by David Bower in 1862 this was the harbourmaster's customs house and was used continuously until 1920 when it became a private residence.

Railway Office
Erected in 1868 as the office for the manager, accountant and clerk of the Kadina and Wallaroo Railway and Pier Company it became part of the South Australian Railways in 1878.

The Jetty
You are looking at the third Wallaroo Jetty. It was built to hold the railway line and is 863 metres long. It became part of the Bulk Handling facility in 1958 and was opened to anglers in 1971. The first jetty was built near here in 1861.

Lydia Crescent
It is worth walking along Lydia Crescent. It has a large number of elegant 19th century houses grace this handsome street.

Kirribili House
Located on the corner of Lydia Terrace and Hughes Street, Kirribili House was built in 1862 as the residence of David Bower, a local businessman. The coach house and the stables can still be seen out the back. It is now a private residence.

Court House
Built in 1866 the Court House operated from 1866 until it closed in 1972 at which time it became the home of the Kadina and Wallaroo Band.

Police Station and Residence
Built on the corner of Thomas Street by local businessman David Bower in 1862. It was eventually closed in 1972.

There are a total of 44 locations around the town. Other places of interest include the Weeroona Hotel (1861), the Coffee Palace (1908), the Waterside Workers Hall (1902), the Wallaroo Hotel (1862), the local Methodist Church (1863), St Marys Anglican Church (1864), the Town Hall (1902), Prince Edward Hotel (1864), the Masonic Lodge (1914) and

Hughes Chimney
The last tangible remnant of the golden era of copper. It was built in 1861 from 300,000 bricks and stands 36.5 metres high. It stands on the foreshore.

There is also an excellent Wallaroo Walking Trail which covers much of the area covered by the Heritage Walk but also looks at other buildings of significance.

Wallaroo Flora and Fauna Park
Located on Ernest Tce this park has a good collection of Australian fauna including wombats, geese, kangaroos and numerous birds which are housed in an aviary. For more information contact (08) 8823 3069

Wallaroo to Kadina Railway
The Yorke Peninsula Rail Preservation Society operates out of the Wallaroo Railway Yards. It departs from Wallaroo Station on the second Sunday of every month at 1 pm. Contact (08) 8823 3111 for departure times.

Tourist Information

Wallaroo Tourist Information Centre
Town Hall Irwin St
Wallaroo SA 5556
Telephone: (08) 8823 2023