OUR HISTORY
CLAYTON FARM HERITAGE MUSEUM
(1886) and Cannawigara (1912) take their names from the original stations but are situated many kilometres from the homestead sites. ABORIGINAL HISTORY Potaruwutj country lies from Struan, along the third inland dune to Taratap, from there it goes north to the Tatiara, Bordertown, Wirrega and Keith. To the north lies Ngarkat country, people closely related to the Potaruwutj, occupying the Mallee bushlands belt east of the Murray River, extending into Victoria to Murrayville where they share a border with the Wergiara people. These groups form the western most part of the Wotjobuluk nation. Aboriginal names still exist today in the district; Wirrega, Cannawigra, Challa, Munkoora, Kongal, Pooginagoric, Mundulla, Nalanghee (Nalang), Tatiara, Brimbago and Padthaway. There are also the swamps such as Poocher, Cannawigra and Moot-Yang-Gunya which are of significance to Aboriginal people and should be treated as such. These areas have a rich aboriginal culture throughout, with an abundance of food sources and plenty of water. Tourists may want to visit Moot-Yang- Gunya and walk the trail. Along this trail are canoe and toe trees, used to access birds nests or honey. Please treat these fragile trees with care. Walking trail information is available from the Bordertown Visitor Information Centre.
The railway from Kingston via Naracoorte arrived at Custon, just inside the Tatiara, in 1881. This encouraged more wheat farmers with further areas being developed from the original stations. A railway siding was established at Wolseley in 1883. When the railway arrived from Adelaide in 1886, Wolseley became an important trans-shipping station with goods from the narrow gauge line from the South East having to be transferred across the platform to the broad gauge line from Adelaide and Melbourne. The Wolseley Fuel Tanks were constructed by the RAAF during World War II and camouflaged to look like farm buildings. The depot ceased operation in 1944. A railway siding was established on the Adelaide line near Mount Monster to serve the surrounding district which had been taken up as pastoral leases in the 1850’s. This was proclaimed a town and named Keith in 1889. The pioneering farmers in some parts of the Tatiara found farming difficult due to the poor soil types. It was not until the 1930’s with the use of superphosphate and later the introduction of trace elements that farming became a viable proposition. In 1950, the AMP Insurance Company funded the development of vast areas of bushland into farmland which resulted in a large growth period for Keith and Bordertown. Part of Padthaway Station was reclaimed for soldier settlement blocks in 1949. The township of Padthaway was surveyed in 1952 on a site opposite the beautiful Padthaway Homestead which was built in 1882. The remaining railway sidings of Wirrega
A visit to Bordertown would not be complete without spending some time at the faithfully restored Clayton Farm. You will experience farm life as it was more than a century ago when the original settlers, the Wiese family, first occupied this land. The Wiese family occupied Clayton Farm until 1981 when Mr Jeff Wiese reached agreement with the Bordertown & District Agricultural Museum to lease an area of 3.48 hectares of land containing an outstanding collection of historic buildings. It was later dedicated as a reserve. The farm was signed over to the Tatiara District Council in July, 2000. The homestead was built in 1885 and visitors can see how the early settlers lived. Check out the stables, chaff and silage sheds and the pigsties. The Woolshed was built in 1901 with whole red gum tree trunks as posts to support red gum branches as beams, topped with a thatched roof – the largest thatched roof woolshed in the southern hemisphere. The large wooden troughs on the cobbled verandah were used for feeding cattle in winter. From 1920 until 1961 it was used as
Clayton Farm by Antony Cirocco
a shearing shed. The Woolshed carries a National Trust classification. Visitors can now wander through these buildings or marvel at the extensive collection of farm machinery that is preserved by the custodians of Clayton Farm. Just 3kms out of Bordertown off the Naracoorte Road – look for the signs. Buses & school groups are welcome – catering can be arranged for morning & afternoon teas and lunches. Open Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 11.00am - 4.00pm Sunday 1.00pm – 5.00pm Other times by appointment.
Old House by Simon Richardson
Wolseley WWII Tanks by Flying Ant
Buckingham Church by Simonne Johnson
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