Stenhouse Bay: at the foot of the Yorke Peninsula region of South Australia

It must rank as one of the most beautiful National Parks in the State... with a spectacular coastline that provides endless opportunities for those who love the outdoors. At about this time of year... the mullet are often biting at Pondalowie Bay at Innes National Park and at the nearby Chinaman's break.. surfers match their wits and talent against some of the best waves in the State.

All of this helps to explain why Innes National Park is one of the most popular in South Australia. It was officially established as a santuary for the endangered Western Whip Bird back in 1970 because of its abundance of untouched coastal scrub.

But all too often this stretch of coastline has offered little sanctuary for sailors in distress. The Maritime Trail.. with wrecks like the Ethel and the Ferrett... is proof of just how dangerous the Peninsula can be.

And this patch of pristine wilderness on the toe of Yorke Peninsula may not have been here, had it not been for a major mining venture which began back in 1913.

That's when William Innes discovered huge deposits of gypsum... and soon the town of Inneston... with it's Post Office Manager's House and assorted cottages was born.

The discovery meant that all of this was protected under a mining lease and consequently saved from the farmers' bulldozers which cleared so much of Yorke Peninsula.

"In 1913 an actual gypsum mine operated at Inneston only four kilometres from here within the park. In 1930 the gypsum mine closed because of dwindling supplies... Fortunately for the workers at Inneston.. It didn't mean that they had to leave the area because huge deposits of gypsum are also located here at Stenhouse Bay."

For almost four decades the old beams and planks at Stenhouse Bay supported an army of gypsum workers who unloaded the enormous bin at the head of the jetty. Slowly the gypsum mountain would dwindle... taken by rail cart along the jetty and out to the steamers and sailing ships bound for Adelaide and beyond.

"Gypsum was used mainly for building industry.. Plaster board.. A very important product for building. Uhm other uses as well.. By products such as salt from the salt lakes where the gypsum was mined.. And also chalk. And in fact i don't whether your parents may have remembered the bell co chalk.. The bell brand chalk at school.. And this is actually where the bell brand chalk was manufactured."

In fact... to this day... many an old Adelaide villa has plaster ceilings... full of gypsum.. sourced from this part of Yorke Peninsula. But getting ships in and out of Stenhouse Bay in rough weather was a bit tricky to say the least.... and so in 1932 the Waratah Gypsum Company went to extraordinary lengths to provide a breakwater.

The sailing ship... the Hugomont.. was dismasted off nearby Althorope Island and was eventually towed to Stenhouse Bay and scuttled.

"And they deliberately dynamited the ship... Just off .. By the rocks over there. Here at Stenhouse Bay.. And the purpose of that was to try and form a protective breakwater for the gypsum supply ships that came in purely of the rough conditions."

It never really worked... rough seas saw the vessel breakup... but the mining and transportation of gypsum continued. It's hard to imagine today that Stenhouse Bay was once a bustling town supporting nearly six hundred people... and boasting a conveyor belt said to be the longest in the Southern hemisphere.

Now the jetty and storage bin are reminders of those halcyon days at Stenhouse Bay.. part of Innes National Park.... a good three hour drive from Adelaide. Entrance to the Park is six dollar per vehicles. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards.sa.com.au