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The following information about the community of Wunkar has been sourced from the book: "Wunkar ( Walker's Dam ) From Mallee to Wheat Fields A Harvest of Memories", published by The Back to Wunkar Book Committee. There are still copies of this book on sale. To puchase your copy please contact Shirley Gibbs on 08 8587 6223.
Until the
early 1900's, Wunkar was known as the Walker's Dam area, situated
18 miles ( 30km ) west of Loxton in the Morthern Murray Mallee
country. Walker's Dam was excavated in 1879.
In formation obtained from early pioneers, William Charles
Loxton and John Theodore Schell, as well as data from the South
Australian Police Gazette ( December 2nd 1874 ), supports the
view that the Dam and a nearby plain were named after three
brothers, Sam, Clem and Billy Walker.
It is suggested that they were convicts who were issued with a "Ticket of leave" ( a licence to a prisoner to be at large before the expiry of his sentence ). It can therefore be concluded, that they arrived from interstate, as no convicts were sent to South Australia.
Many of the
first arrivals were of German descent, travelling from the
Barossa Valley in South Australia. For many wagons were loaded
with all their belongings, before the long journey commenced,
travelling along the old stock routes from well to well or
watering points.
It is hard to imagine how the pioneers could settle amongst the
scrub in this virgin mallee country, living in tents or
galvanised iron and wood huts. Their dreams of owning their own
land and transforming the scrub into wheat fields to make a
living for their family, over-rode the many hardships.
The women faced many hardships. They had to contend with extreme temperatures, dust storms, lack of water, flies and other pests and often insufficient water. Some were lucky to have underground cellars to keep their produce cool during the summer. Cows had to be milked, butter and soap made, wood cut for the stove to cook the bread, cakes and meals. Supplies were purchased from Loxton, a 1 hour drive by horse and buggy on the scrubs tracks. Sheep were killed for meat and the meat was salted so it would keep longer. Sausages, metwurst, black and white pudding were made whenever a pig was killed. When the tanks emptied, water was carted from a well, dam or the river.
People often remark "Back in the good old days". Would any us today like to step back in time and pull on the boots of our ancestors and pioneers? As a community we enjoy the fruit produced from those first seeds sown back in 1879. Wunkar has been witness to many changes over the years, we still have a strong and thriving community, with great sporting, recreational and hospitality facilities for all to enjoy. You are most welcome to visit us some time, have a meal at the "Tavern", take a look at our recreational grounds and enjoy the hospitalty "Wunkar" has on offer.
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