The Kangaroo Island Pioneers Association (KIPA), established in 1983, aims to protect and promote South Australia’s oldest and most precious historic sites, which are all found on Kangaroo Island.
It is a surprising fact to many people that South Australia’s oldest and most precious historic sites are all found on Kangaroo Island.
From its discovery by Matthew Flinders in 1802; the famous engraving of Frenchman’s Rock; the visit of sealers, whalers, kangaroo hunters and salt gatherers; the building of the first boat; the arrival of adventurers from Tasmania (with their Aboriginal ‘wives’); and ships’ deserters who eventually became the first farmers, market gardeners and home builders. And all of this – and more – long before formal settlement was even contemplated.
Some of the early arrivals stayed and became South Australia’s first ‘unofficial’ settlers and long-term residents. They have descendants on the Island to this day.
On July 27 1836, South Australia’s first ‘official’ settlers arrived. A town, Kingscote, at Reeves Point was established. Homes were built and gardens and fruit trees planted, with the iconic Mulberry Tree still flourishing and bearing fruit today.
These remarkable and enthralling aspects of South Australia’s history have been researched; recorded; marked with cairns, monuments and memorials; and promoted for over 30 years by the Kangaroo Island Pioneers’ Association.
KIPA is not based in Kangaroo Island but on the mainland.