The County of Dufferin is a cadastral county on South Australia’s west coast, proclaimed in 1889 and named for Frederick, Lord Dufferin, a British diplomat of the era. It lies north of Streaky Bay and takes in most of Pureba Conservation Park.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | South Australia |
| Region | West Coast (Far West) |
| Proclaimed | 1889 |
| Named after | Frederick, Lord Dufferin, British diplomat |
| Area | 6,790 km² |
| Local government areas today | District Council of Ceduna, District Council of Streaky Bay |
Parishes in Dufferin County
The county’s surveyed hundreds, listed alphabetically:
- Hundred of Carawa
- Hundred of Hague
- Hundred of Haslam
- Hundred of Koolgera
- Hundred of Nunnyah
- Hundred of Perlubie
- Hundred of Petina
- Hundred of Pureba
- Hundred of Wallala
- Hundred of Walpuppie
- Hundred of Yantanabie
Towns and Localities Today
The hundreds cover roughly the southwestern half of the county, and settlement is thin. Wirrulla, on the Eyre Highway, is the largest locality, with Haslam, Mudamuckla and Yantanabie serving surrounding grain and sheep country. The northern part of the county, beyond the hundreds, is unincorporated pastoral and conservation land. Grain and wool remain the dominant industries, with trucks moving crop to Ceduna and Streaky Bay for shipment. The Eyre Highway is the only sealed road through the county, linking these small communities to Adelaide and Perth.
Geography
Dufferin sits on the Far West coast of South Australia, north of Streaky Bay township, with the Eyre Highway crossing its southern hundreds. Pureba Conservation Park covers a large share of its western and central area, protecting mallee scrub and coastal heath typical of the region.
History
The county was proclaimed in 1889, part of the later wave of survey that pushed cadastral divisions along South Australia’s west coast as wheat farming spread beyond Eyre Peninsula’s more settled south. Its hundreds were progressively opened for selection through the following decades, with Wirrulla growing as the local rail and road centre. At 6,790 km², Dufferin is one of the larger South Australian counties by area, reflecting the sparse settlement typical of the Far West. Rainfall averages under 300 mm a year across most of the county, which limits farming to its southern hundreds nearer the coast.
FAQ
Where is the County of Dufferin?
It is on South Australia’s west coast, north of Streaky Bay, and includes most of Pureba Conservation Park.
What is the main town in the County of Dufferin?
Wirrulla is the largest locality, on the Eyre Highway.
Is the County of Dufferin still used?
Cadastral counties like Dufferin remain part of land titles and property descriptions in South Australia, but they have no government function today.