Undalya, South Australia

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Undalya (Postcode: 5451) is a small rural town on the southern edge of the Clare Valley, in the mid north of the state of South Australia. It is located on the Horrocks Highway approximately halfway between the towns of Auburn and Rhynie, at the junction of the River Wakefield and Pine Creek. To the east lies the town of Saddleworth and to the south-west lies the town of Balaklava. The town was officially gazetted as Undalya in 1859.

Meaning

The name Undalya was given by the local Aborigines and means "water holes", while the surrounding district was known as Kercoonda meaning "camp near water". In the early years of the village, Aborigines were in great numbers in the district.

History and events

On one of his expeditions, explorer Edward John Eyre camped at Undalya and commented on the large amount of water in the River Wakefield as well as the availability of the local blue limestone.

The most notable feature of Undalya is the local bridge over the River Wakefield. Built in 1855, with various alterations, additions and repairs, the bridge is known locally by three names: Basket Bridge, Cradle Bridge or Coathanger Bridge. It has taken the full force of many floods and at one time was the biggest one-span bridge in South Australia. The bridge was bypassed with a new bridge slightly to the east of it in the 1950s and today only serves the local residents.

In 1859, a local farmer sold one quarter of an acre for a

In 1866, with a grant of money and land from another local farmer, the

One of the biggest local industries during the 19th century was that of wool-scouring, or wool-washing in the River Wakefield. One such example is that of

In the mid-to-late 19th century, ancestors of Australian Football Hall of Fame footballer Neil Kerley lived at Undalya.^{[citation needed]}

In the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, according to the newspapers of the time, Undalya was a thriving rural village with reports of ploughing matches, horse racing and even a shooting at the local hotel, where the owner shot a customer who, on being refused service, had jumped the counter to serve himself.

Today the village is nothing more than a collection of a few houses around a rarely used bridge.

Notable former residents include author, illustrator and naturalist, Mervinia Masterman.

Governance

Undalya is in the

• Manning, Geoffrey H. From Aaron Creek To Zion Hill: Place Names of South Australia.
• Moyle, Jean V. The Wakefield: Its Water And Its Wealth.

External links

• Michell Wool website #1
• Michell Wool website #2
• Photos of Undalya on Panoramio
• Online search of the State Library of South Australia's collections for pictures of Undalya
• "Place ID 16020". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government.
• Roll of honour for soldiers that enlisted in WW1 #1
• Roll of honour for soldiers that enlisted in WW1 #2