The Bullock Track

The Bullock Track

Original wording:

"A rough track linked Kingscote with The Farm at Cygnet River, about 7 miles away".

The S.A. Company acquired The Farm from its founder Henry "Governor" Wallen who, with his three aboriginal wives, arrived on the Island 15 years before the first settlers at Reeves Point.

"However there is no standing against big men and [illegible] Walley who had his island home, his three wives, his two friends, both Fridays, his pigs, his some hundred fowls, was ordered to give up his estate. All his fowls went for 20 shillings, his pigs at equally scandalous prices. For his land it was retended he received the value."

Dr W.H. Leigh 1837

The Farm proves that "Governor Wally" was a good judge of land, for in its vicinity is some of the best on the island. After its purchase by the Company, the first sawmill was started, and from the timber sawn there the old jetty in Kingscote was built".

E.H. Hallack 1905

Source [illegible]

Revised wording (April 2017)

Top Left Panel (53 words) (original = 46 words)

“There is a road cut through the gum-trees ... by ... Messrs. Beare & Stephens, to a spot called the Farm – a distance from Kingscote of seven miles: we followed this track, passing ... amid almost impenetrable forests of gum-trees ... which spread their dark-green foliage, so as to totally eclipse the sun ...” (Dr. W.H. Leigh 1839)

Bottom Left Panel (124 words) (original = 108 words)

The Farm had been established before official settlement at Three Wells River, now Cygnet River, by Henry (‘Governor’) Wallen.

“An inspection of “The Farm” proves that “Governor Wally” (Wallen) was a good judge of land, for in the vicinity is some of the best on the island for purposes of cultivation; while the sugar-gum timber adjacent is of the highest quality. After its purchase by the company the first sawmill was started, and from the timber sawn there the old jetty at Kingscote was built ...” (E.H.Hallack – 1905)

Until the late 1880’s most of the money allocated by the Government for roads went to the section from Kingscote to the Cygnet River sawmill, down the only road on Kangaroo Island - the old Bullock Track.