The County of Young is one of South Australia’s 49 cadastral counties. Governor Richard MacDonnell proclaimed it on 19 April 1860 and named it after his predecessor, Governor Henry Edward Fox Young. The county covers 5,450 square kilometres in the state’s east, north of the Murray River in the Murray and Mallee region.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | South Australia |
| Region | Murray and Mallee |
| Proclaimed | 19 April 1860 |
| Named after | Governor Henry Edward Fox Young |
| Area | 5,450 km² |
| Local government areas today | Mid Murray Council; District Council of Loxton Waikerie; Pastoral Unincorporated Area |
Hundreds in Young County
The county is divided into 4 hundreds, proclaimed between 1860 and 1915.
- Hundred of Markaranka
- Hundred of Parcoola
- Hundred of Pooginook
- Hundred of Stuart
Towns and Localities Today
Young County has no towns of its own; it is sparsely settled farming and mallee scrub country split between the Mid Murray and Loxton Waikerie council areas, with the north of the county unincorporated pastoral land. Residents rely on nearby river towns such as Waikerie and Loxton, both outside the county’s boundary, for services.
Geography
The county is bounded by the Murray River to the south, the County of Hamley to the east, an extension of the County of Burra’s northern boundary to the north, and the County of Burra to the west.
History
Governor MacDonnell proclaimed the county in 1860, naming it for his predecessor Governor Young. Its hundreds were gazetted in two phases: the Hundred of Stuart in 1860, named after explorer John McDouall Stuart, and the remaining three in 1915 as Mallee land further from the Murray was opened for farming.
FAQ
Where is Young County?
It lies in South Australia’s east, north of the Murray River in the Murray and Mallee region.
What towns are in Young County?
The county has no towns of its own; Waikerie and Loxton, just outside its boundary, are the nearest service towns.
Is Young County still used?
Cadastral counties like Young remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.