Carnarvon County is one of South Australia’s 49 cadastral counties and covers the whole of Kangaroo Island. Governor Anthony Musgrave proclaimed it on 13 August 1874 in response to demand for agricultural land on the island.
Key Facts
| State | South Australia |
|---|---|
| Region | Kangaroo Island |
| Proclaimed | 13 August 1874 |
| Named after | Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon |
| Principal towns | Kingscote, Penneshaw, Parndana, American River |
| Local government areas today | Kangaroo Island Council |
Hundreds in Carnarvon County
The county has 12 hundreds, proclaimed between 1874 and 1960.
- Hundred of Borda
- Hundred of Cassini
- Hundred of Dudley
- Hundred of Duncan
- Hundred of Gosse
- Hundred of Haines
- Hundred of MacDonald
- Hundred of MacGillivray
- Hundred of Menzies
- Hundred of Newland
- Hundred of Ritchie
- Hundred of Seddon
Towns and Localities Today
Kingscote is Kangaroo Island’s largest town and administrative centre, in the Hundred of Menzies on the north coast. Penneshaw, in the Hundred of Dudley, serves the ferry link to the mainland; Parndana, further west, is the island’s inland farming centre; and American River sits on the Dudley Peninsula between Kingscote and Penneshaw. All fall under the single Kangaroo Island Council.
Geography
Carnarvon County covers the entire island and its adjacent islands. Its hundreds are grouped by coast: Borda, Gosse, Duncan, Cassini, and Menzies along the north; MacDonald, Ritchie, Newland, Seddon, and MacGillivray along the south; Haines south of Nepean Bay; and Dudley on the Dudley Peninsula in the east.
History
Governor Musgrave named the county after Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, a British Secretary of State for the Colonies. He named the Hundred of Dudley after Dudley Field, his father-in-law and an American jurist. A proposed Hundred of Baudin was never proclaimed.
FAQ
What does Carnarvon County cover?
All of Kangaroo Island and its adjacent islands, across 12 hundreds.
Is Carnarvon County still used?
Cadastral counties like Carnarvon remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.
What is the main town in Carnarvon County?
Kingscote, Kangaroo Island’s largest town and the seat of Kangaroo Island Council.