Haslam - A small coastal hamlet in South Australia

The main road in leads directly to the Haslam Jetty. Situated near its end is a campsite for fully self-contained recreational vehicles only and can accommodate approx. 20 vans, including large rigs as well. Pets are welcome on a lead and good fresh water is available near the jetty.

A $10 per night accommodation fee is payable via an honour box, but Eric and I noticed that not too many people were honourable!!

Although fully self-contained does mean your own toilet, shower and grey water tank, there is a very clean toilet facility at the jetty, with the jetty being no more than 50 metres from the campsite. At the campsite there is no internet signal, but you can find a one or two bars in the car park near the jetty. Launching your boat is only available at high tide.

In December 1913 the construction of the Haslam jetty began. It grew to 430 metres long with a head of 64 metres, with a water depth at low tide of 3.65 metres. Construction of the jetty took 12 months to complete and was much celebrated by the community.

By the 1960’s the jetty was no longer commercially viable and finally the last cargo ship called in 1964. Eventually in 1972 work began to reduce its length but the residents of Haslam were against the decision. They used their vehicles to block and barricade the area from the demolishing crew. But under the cover of darkness, the Harbours Board, known as 'Corcoran’s Raiders' removed the obstructing vehicles and proceeded to blow away a 12-foot section of the jetty. The jetty was thus drastically shortened to 251 metres!

The Haslam Jetty, the struggle to keep it from destruction in 1972 and the ongoing need to maintain it, shows just how important the jetty is to the local and wider community of Haslam.

Point Brown was a station leased from the Government in the 1800’s by a Doctor Brown and it was reputed to have carried 30,000 sheep in its prime. The station also stretched as far east as Petina. However water was scarce away from the coast so these areas of land were only stocked with sheep during the winter months.

What was known as 'The Hundred of Haslam' was a mere paddock of Point Brown. During the later 1800’s the government resumed Point Brown and re-surveyed the land into blocks for farming, to meet the growing needs of the arrival of more settlers. As a result, a whole new industry was to emerge in the virgin bush, with the arrival of the wheat farmer.

'The Hundred of Haslam', proclaimed on 18 May 1893, was named after William Haslam who was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council 1891-1898.

The seeds of agriculture were sown, but the industry had a difficult birth and growth period, where only the strong survived and the less fortunate went broke and moved on.

The seasons fluctuated from total drought to lean years, with the odd bumper harvest. These seasonal variations persisted and were reluctantly accepted by the settlers. Those who stayed on and endured the hardship of the land are credited for bringing the industry finally to its maturity.

By the turn of the century the pioneers had made their mark with Keeley’s to the east, Barker’s and Carmichael’s to the west and Dunn’s to the north at Carawa.

The township of Haslam was also originally known as Carawa Landing.

Image: Coastline of Point Brown

Source:

History and Jetty information provided by the township of Haslam community notice board .