The County of Light is one of South Australia’s 49 cadastral counties, covering today’s Barossa Valley and part of the northern Mount Lofty Ranges. Governor George Grey proclaimed it in 1842, naming it for the River Light, itself named after Colonel William Light, the colony’s first Surveyor-General. Kapunda, Nuriootpa and Gawler border towns lie within it.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | South Australia |
| Region | Barossa Valley, northern Mount Lofty Ranges |
| Proclaimed | 1842 |
| Named after | Colonel William Light, via the River Light |
| Area | 2,173 km² |
| Principal towns | Kapunda, Nuriootpa, Saddleworth |
| Local government areas today | Barossa Council, Light Regional Council, District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys, Regional Council of Goyder |
Hundreds in Light County
- Hundred of Belvidere
- Hundred of Gilbert
- Hundred of Julia Creek
- Hundred of Kapunda
- Hundred of Light
- Hundred of Moorooroo
- Hundred of Nuriootpa
- Hundred of Saddleworth
- Hundred of Waterloo
Towns and Localities Today
Nuriootpa and Kapunda are Light County’s largest towns, the former a Barossa Valley wine-industry hub in Barossa Council, the latter a former copper-mining town in Light Regional Council. Saddleworth and Waterloo lie in the county’s north within the District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys and Regional Council of Goyder.
Geography
The county is bounded to the north by the upper Wakefield River, to the west by the approximate line of Horrocks Highway, and to the south by the North Para River. The River Light bisects it from east to west.
History
Light County was proclaimed in 1842, one of South Australia’s earliest counties. Local government first appeared in its southern Hundred of Moorooroo in 1853–1855, and had extended across all nine hundreds by the 1870s. It takes its name from Colonel William Light, whose survey work shaped the colony’s early settlement.
FAQ
Is Light County still used?
Cadastral divisions like Light County remain in South Australian land titles and property descriptions, but the county itself has no government or administrative function today.
What towns are in Light County?
Kapunda, Nuriootpa, Saddleworth and Waterloo are its main towns.
Which council areas cover Light County?
Barossa Council, Light Regional Council, District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys and Regional Council of Goyder.