Kingston District Council

History

The area was originally settled by the Ngarrindjeri Aborigines, who lived along the Coorong and extended across the Murray River to the present day site of Goolwa.

The first European to make contact with this stretch of coastline was the French explorer Nicolas Baudin who discovered Lacepede Bay in 1802. In 1840, the Brigantine Maria was shipwrecked near Cape Jaffa after leaving Port Adelaide. All 25 people aboard were massacred by Aborigines along the Coorong.

The town of Kingston SE was established in 1856, the town being named after the government surveyor, George Strickland Kingston by Governor McDonnell, in 1858. The district council was then established in 1858 to serve the growing area, before having its name changed in 2000.

Mayor Legoe justified the change at the ceremony, stating; "The decision to change the name of the Council was not a decision to change for the sake of change. It is a decision to change the image and identity of the Council to propel itself into the 21st Century".

The district is mostly reliant on agriculture, particularly cereal crops, sheep and cattle. Cape Jaffa also hosts a lobster fishing fleet, with other commercial fishing also providing part of the area's economy.

Tourism also plays a minor role, with Kingston SE a minor tourist destination, noted for its 'Big Lobster', with Mount Scott Conservation Park and Butchers Gap Conservation Park also located in the district.

Kingston SE is the central town to the district, being the largest town and also the seat of council.

Localities

The district council includes the following localities - Avenue Range (part), Blackford, Cape Jaffa, Coorong, Keilira, Kingston SE, Marcollat, Pinks Beach, Reedy Creek, Rosetown, Sandy Grove, Taratap, Tilley Swamp, Wangolina, West Range and Wyomi.

Councillors

Kingston District Council has a directly-elected mayor.