The County of Hanson is a cadastral county in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, proclaimed on 20 July 1877 and named for Sir Richard Davies Hanson, a former premier and chief justice of the colony. It lies east of Hawker and takes in part of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | South Australia |
| Region | Flinders Ranges (Far North) |
| Proclaimed | 20 July 1877 |
| Named after | Sir Richard Davies Hanson, Premier and Chief Justice of South Australia |
| Area | 3,280 km² |
| Local government areas today | Flinders Ranges Council, Pastoral Unincorporated Area |
Parishes in Hanson County
The county’s surveyed hundreds, listed alphabetically:
- Hundred of Adams
- Hundred of Arkaba
- Hundred of French
- Hundred of Moralana
- Hundred of Warcowie
Towns and Localities Today
Hanson has no towns of its own; Hawker, just west of the county boundary, is the nearest service centre for fuel, supplies and accommodation. The county is mostly pastoral leasehold land, with Flinders Ranges Way running north–south through it and Wilpena Pound and St Mary Peak within its south-west corner. Sheep and cattle grazing on pastoral leases remains the county’s only industry, alongside tourism drawn by the national park.
Geography
Hanson sits east of Hawker in the Flinders Ranges and borders the counties of Taunton, Blachford, Newcastle, Granville, Lytton and Derby. Its south-west corner takes in the southern end of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, home to Wilpena Pound. St Mary Peak, the range’s highest point, rises within the same corner of the county.
History
The county was proclaimed on 20 July 1877, named for Richard Hanson, who served as South Australia’s premier from 1857 to 1861 and then as chief justice until 1876. Most of its five hundreds, other than Arkaba, were not surveyed until 1895, well after the county’s proclamation, reflecting slow pastoral settlement in this dry country. At 3,280 km², Hanson sits entirely within the Flinders Ranges rain shadow, among the drier of South Australia’s cadastral counties.
FAQ
Where is the County of Hanson?
It lies in the Flinders Ranges east of Hawker, taking in part of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park.
Does the County of Hanson have any towns?
No permanent towns; Hawker, just outside the boundary, is the nearest service centre.
Is the County of Hanson still used?
Cadastral counties like Hanson remain part of land titles and property descriptions in South Australia, but they have no government function today.