Torrens Vale: Ghost Town and Settlement History

Torrens Vale is now a ghost town, located between Bald Hills and Parawa. Its history comes to life through specific people, dates, and historic sites: two cemeteries, Biddle House, and the churches of the former settlement offer different ways to explore the past. If you are travelling with children, names and dates can provide a common thread for conversation.

Cemeteries and Early Local History

The earliest documented burial at Harcourt Cemetery was that of Mary Ann Doble Tonkin, who died on 1 May 1855. At Bible Christian Cemetery, the first documented person buried was John Mugfur, who died on 19 June 1856. The two cemeteries thus represent two personal reference points in the area's history. Their dates of death are just over a year apart and can be compared as a short sequence of events. This offers an easy way to start a conversation if you would like to put individual names and dates in order with children.

Harcourt Cemetery is on Torrens Vale Road. It also includes a single grave located about 20 metres from the enclosed cemetery. Here, belonging and location are not the same thing: the grave is considered part of the cemetery, but is outside its enclosure. This spatial feature adds a specific detail to the cemetery's history.

Biddle House and the Former Settlement

Biddle House was built around 1863 for James and Ann Biddle. The family's property was called Spring Farm; the name refers to the property, while Biddle House is the name of the building. In chronological terms, the approximate construction date comes after the dates of death in 1855 and 1856. This makes it possible to put personal history and building history in a simple sequence, while keeping clear the distinction between the name of the property and that of the house.

The former settlement of Torrens Vale included a Wesleyan Church and a Bible Christian Church. Another strand of local history concerns Rev Charles Lee junior, who was sent to Dairy Flat, now Torrens Vale, to run a day school and hold religious services on Sundays. Education and worship are therefore additional themes in the area's history, alongside the cemeteries and Biddle House. The two churches provide distinct reference points; Lee's assignment tells of a specific connection between schooling and Sunday services.

Views and Orientation at the Lookout

At Torrens Vale Lookout on Torrens Vale Road, visitors are invited to stop and enjoy the view. An information board provides a map and the history of Torrens Vale; visitors are also invited to read about the area's history. The lookout thus combines views of the landscape with practical information to help orient visitors. If you like to pair a viewpoint with a subject to explore, you can look at the map here and then learn about the area's history.

Its location between Bald Hills and Parawa gives you a geographical frame of reference for planning your trip. When looking for a holiday rental, consider whether you would like Torrens Vale, with its ghost town and settlement history, to be the main focus of your trip, or whether you would like to include other destinations. This preferred focus can help you choose a suitable base for your holiday.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Wirrina Cove, Sellicks Hill, Cape Jervis, Myponga, Normanville, Bald Hills, Yankalilla

For the overarching travel guide: District Council of Yankalilla.