The County of Way is one of South Australia’s 49 cadastral counties, proclaimed around 1889 by Governor William Robinson and named after Samuel Way, Chief Justice of the state’s Supreme Court at the time. The county covers about 6,760 square kilometres of South Australia’s west coast, from near Streaky Bay west to Watraba, near Ceduna.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | South Australia |
| Region | West Coast / Eyre Peninsula |
| Proclaimed | circa 1889 |
| Named after | Samuel Way, Chief Justice of South Australia |
| Principal towns | Ceduna, Koonibba, Smoky Bay |
| Local government areas today | District Council of Ceduna; Pastoral Unincorporated Area |
Hundreds in Way County
The county is divided into 13 hundreds, gazetted between 1889 and 1929.
- Hundred of Bartlett
- Hundred of Blacker
- Hundred of Bonython
- Hundred of Catt
- Hundred of Chillundie
- Hundred of Goode
- Hundred of Guthrie
- Hundred of Horn
- Hundred of Moule
- Hundred of O’Loughlin
- Hundred of Pethick
- Hundred of Wallanippie
- Hundred of Wandana
Towns and Localities Today
Ceduna is the county’s largest town and the seat of the District Council of Ceduna, serving the west coast’s grain and fishing trade. Koonibba, Denial Bay, Smoky Bay and Laura Bay are smaller coastal settlements along the same stretch of coast.
Geography
The county stretches along the Great Australian Bight coast from Acraman Creek Conservation Park near Streaky Bay west to Watraba, about 33 miles west of Ceduna, and takes in most of the Yumbarra Conservation Park in its north.
History
Governor Robinson proclaimed the county around 1889 as survey and settlement extended west along the coast beyond Streaky Bay. Its hundreds were gazetted in stages over the following four decades, the last in 1929, as wheat farming pushed further along the coastal strip toward Ceduna.
FAQ
Where is Way County?
It runs along South Australia’s west coast from near Streaky Bay west to near Ceduna.
What towns are in Way County?
Ceduna is the main town, with Koonibba, Denial Bay and Smoky Bay as smaller coastal centres.
Is Way County still used?
Cadastral counties like Way remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.