The County of Grey is a cadastral county in South Australia’s south-east, proclaimed in 1846 by Governor Frederick Robe and named for former Governor George Grey. It runs from Penola and Lake George south toward the Victorian border.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | South Australia |
| Region | Limestone Coast (South East) |
| Proclaimed | 23 July 1846 |
| Named after | Former Governor George Grey |
| Area | 5,294 km² |
| Principal towns | Mount Gambier, Millicent, Penola, Beachport |
| Local government areas today | Wattle Range Council, District Council of Grant, City of Mount Gambier |
Parishes in Grey County
The county’s surveyed hundreds, listed alphabetically:
- Hundred of Benara
- Hundred of Blanche
- Hundred of Caroline
- Hundred of Gambier
- Hundred of Grey
- Hundred of Hindmarsh
- Hundred of Kennion
- Hundred of Kongorong
- Hundred of Lake George
- Hundred of MacDonnell
- Hundred of Mayurra
- Hundred of Mingbool
- Hundred of Monbulla
- Hundred of Mount Muirhead
- Hundred of Nangwarry
- Hundred of Penola
- Hundred of Riddoch
- Hundred of Rivoli Bay
- Hundred of Short
- Hundred of Symon
- Hundred of Young
Towns and Localities Today
Mount Gambier, South Australia’s second-largest city outside Adelaide, sits in the Hundred of Blanche around its volcanic Blue Lake. Millicent and Penola serve the county’s forestry and grazing hundreds, and Beachport is the coastal fishing and tourism town on Rivoli Bay.
Geography
Grey stretches from Penola and Lake George in the north to the Victorian border in the south, taking in the volcanic craters around Mount Gambier and the limestone karst country that gives the Limestone Coast its name. The Hundred of Hindmarsh contains the Tantanoola Caves, a dolomite cave system open to visitors. Pine plantations across Mayurra, Rivoli Bay and Nangwarry underpin the region’s timber industry, alongside cattle grazing and dairying on the flatter country.
History
Governor Frederick Robe proclaimed the county in 1846, naming it for George Grey, his predecessor. Its 21 hundreds were surveyed through the following decades as pastoral runs gave way to closer settlement, with Mount Gambier growing around its volcanic lakes into the region’s principal city. At 5,294 km², Grey is one of South Australia’s larger counties, spanning almost the entire Limestone Coast from Penola to the Victorian border.
FAQ
Where is the County of Grey?
It covers South Australia’s far south-east, from Penola south to the Victorian border.
What is the main town in the County of Grey?
Mount Gambier is the largest town, followed by Millicent, Penola and Beachport.
Is the County of Grey still used?
Cadastral counties like Grey remain part of land titles and property descriptions in South Australia, but they have no government function today.