HOME        Updated Sept 2010
INLAWS and OUTLAWS  
HERBERT

Early settlers in Yankalilla, South Australia

Septimane Herbert

In 1842, Septimane was given a land grant and became one of the original farmers in Yankalilla.

He trialed the early model reaper, invented in 1845, but found it unsuitable for the hilly and rough ground and continued to grow and reap his crops by the old method.

The land had either been cleared or was clear of vegetation, and the ground was ploughed using a 2 man team with bullocks and a mould-board plough.  One would drive the team, the other guide the plough.
Crops were hand sewn by means of hand throwing the seeds onto the land - the seeds being carried in a bag worn either in front of, or on the side of the farmer.   This left both hands free to scatter the seed.  The seed was then covered by dragging harrows over the field - again using a team of bullocks.

Septimane's land was on the side of the hill by the Bungala watercourse - he chose the nearest the beach above the tea tree swamp. After planting a few acres, and building what is believed to be the first stone building south of Willunga, (3 rooms) he then bought Ann and his 3 sons to live there in early 1843.  One assumes in the meantime they were housed in Adelaide as Setpimane, Anna and three sons arrived in Sth Australia on the 25th February, 1839 on the 'Thomas Harrison' from London [Sources:2,7,21,23(8)]

In 1852 , local government was formed at Yankalilla, by 1854, Councillors listed were William Randall, Septimane Herbert, G F Day, Thomas Sclanders and Charles Thomas Hewitt (became chairman).

Grave of Septamine and Anna Hebert.  Yankalilla Cemetery, just prior to the substation up the track off the main road in Yankalilla.