MIDDLE RIVER HOMESTEAD: Kangaroo Island in South Australia

Today Snelling Beach is regarded as one of the top fishing spots on Kangaroo Island. You'll often find locals and holiday makers wetting a line…just as old Henry Snelling did back in 1861 when he first came here from Adelaide with his wife and children back in 1861.

Prior to Snelling's arrival.. there was no permanent settlement here. But for many years sealers were known to camp on the banks of the nearby Middle River.

Postcards visited the area in the height of summer when the dry pastures provided ample proof of just how important this picturesque river was to the opening up of the north coast. As you follow the river into the surrounding hills… you come across cottages built on what is one of the oldest properties on the district… Middle River Homestead. The two more recent additions offer comfortable self contained family accommodation from which to explore this part of the island.. which for many years remained a lonely outpost.

"Most of the farming associated with this end of the island was associated with need that came out of lighthouses and shipping and sealing and so on… but the.. and the farming came after that original settlement.. so this would have been a small farming area which developed almost separately."

The Bell family moved here at the turn of last century and from small beginnings Ben Bell later set about quarrying the local limestone to build the family home. Like so much of the island.. wool was essential to he growth of Middle River Homestead. The difficulty was so much in herding the sheep within the natural contours of the gully down to Snelling's Beach but getting the wool clip to market back in Adelaide.

"The difficulties were associated with the fact that the roads weren't that good uhm and to get to places to get supplies was not always a weekly occurrence. Families helped on the farm.. they were fairly self sufficient. Hence the orchard their own meat production.. very resourceful like people were."

Those who settled here had to contend with loneliness and the likelihood that much needed supplies might take weeks to arrive.

But in the tough times the bream that abound in Middle River provided a handy supplement to the local diet.

"And people now still fish the river and fish off the beach at different times of the year.. in fact we have people who ring and ask can they come and fish on the property.. that they've been coming for many years and is it fine for the still to .. and of course it is."

But while times may have been tough.. the Bells were determined to have their little luxuries.

"The Bell's, like many farming families who opened up little patches of civilisation along the north coast were hardworking industrious people, who even carved out their own orchard oasis amid the scrub.. and this old mulberry tree planted so many years ago is proof of just how determined they were to have their own simple treats in this isolated community."

A century on…and the fruit.. this summer will be just as sweet. Nearby the Bells carved out their own clearing for the weekend cricket match…and probably a few locals would have looked on quietly from the trees above.

In fact the abundance of wildlife.. makes Middle River Homestead.. a great location for the family holiday.. but just be careful on your explorations of the north coast…the roos and tamar wallabies are literally everywhere.

And come night time back at the cottage.. a word of advice.. the possums arrive by any mode of transport available. They love fruit.. but believe me.. it's soon obvious that they've always had the run of the place.

The Old Homestead costs $120 per couple per night.. with a charge of $12 for each additional guest. The cottages are also available for hire… just contact Adventures Charters of Kangaroo Island on 8553 9119.