Thank you to all those brave souls who came out for the tour of Hummock Hill and the community engagement meeting afterwards. It was a wild and blustery evening with the wind blowing a gale on the top of the hill. We had to cancel the walking tour in the light of the inclement weather and pile everyone into the bus, but it was a very successful event.
The tour, commentary and questions from those on board the bus clarified issues and enhanced our knowledge of Hummock Hill's topography, the native vegetation in place and the threat to it being caused by need infestations.
Thank you also to all those who have made suggestions via our survey as to how this special place could be enhanced. As a result of your survey comments, both OneSteel and the Whyalla City Council were able to see first hand your views what could be done as well as what needs to be done.
As with all such projects the budget is limited, in this case to $100,000 in this financial years budget and the money will no doubt not enable all the ideas and suggestions received to be implemented. It will be the difficult task of the Project Working Party, to draft a plan encompassing as much as possible of the ideas and suggestions made by the Whyalla community members.
Some hot food and beverages warmed us up after the tour and gave residents an opportunity to study some of the comments made to date by the public, to look at maps and proposals for the area and discuss issues and gain information from stakeholders such as OneSteel, the National Resources Management Board, State Heritage and Council's Environment and Development Services personnel.
The community conversation was excellent and it was pleasing to see everyone present had the opportunity to speak and put forward their ideas and suggestions. These ideas and suggestions were captured by two scribes, view below.
The Hummock Hill survey closed Monday, 10 October 2011. Once the collation of the data and public input from the meeting are finalised we will post a summary of all suggestions and data. Shortly after this the Hummock Hill Working Party will study all the information from you, our residents, and start to formulate a plan to be put out for further comment down the track. When all of this is completed, work should then commence on the project by early next year.
| Survey Results | Minutes of Hummock Hill Meeting Minutes |
Hummock Hill Survey Results 1  (12 kb)
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Hummock Hill Minutes 26.10.11 (12 kb) |
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Hummock Hill Survey Results 2 (31 kb) |
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Public input sought on Hummock HillA proposed $100,000 upgrade and revegetation heritage project to enhance the city's iconic landmark, Hummock Hill, invites community comment and input as part of a public participation process. Funded jointly by Council and OneSteel, the project will result in a significantly restored and upgraded landscape. All stakeholders, the public, decision maker (which is Council) and sponsor OneSteel, need to fully understand the opportunity that this project presents. A public participation process has been launched and includes:
Residents wishing to attend are asked to confirm their intention by phoning 8640 3444 or emailing council@whyalla.sa.gov.au To view the Hummock Hill Conservation Reserve report please click here. |
A message from OneSteel
OneSteel is looking to work with Whyalla Council and the
It has been extremely pleasing to see this local landmark gradually
We are now keen to further improve the look of the hill, particularly |
A giant kite's view from Hummock Hill at an Easter low tide
Hummock Hill is a key natural and historic icon of Whyalla with its outline featured on Whyalla Council's logo.
It was in 1802 when Matthew Flinders' sloop The Investigator swung at anchor in Spencer Gulf. Little could anyone imagine the future for this apparently inhospitable stretch of the coastline of Terra Australis.
In 1800 the then First Lord of the British Admiralty, Earl Spencer, dispatched Commander Matthew Flinders to undertake a more detailed study of this vast new land.
In late February 1802, Flinders named Spencer's Gulf (later to become simply Spencer Gulf) in honour of the respectable gentleman who presided over the Board of the Admiralty.
On March 9, he recorded in his journal that he had examined "on the western side [of the Gulf] a squat hill apparently rising directly from a broad bay with a low sandy shore rising gradually." He named the spot Hummock Hill.
In addition to being a historical landmark during the exploration of the region, nearly a century and a half later the hill was again a landmark involved in the history of Whyalla during the Second World War.
After the fall of Singapore, Whyalla formed a vital strategic link for the Australian war effort. Iron ore and pig iron shipped out to Newcastle were essential commodities. A shell annexe had also begun producing munitions at the BHP works.
As a consequence of this industrial significance, defence authorities decided that it was essential steps be taken to defend Whyalla against possible enemy attacks. A single bomb could render the main power plant and BHP's industrial complex useless. So, an anti‑aircraft battery was installed on top of the hill, overlooking the gulf covering the blast furnace area, ore jetty, shipbuilding yard and most of the then township.
Early stages of the fortifications were built by BHP workmen, but the majority of work was performed by gunners of the 26th Heavy Anti‑Aircraft Battery under supervision of the Deputy Commander, 65th Royal Engineers who arrived on February 14, 1942. At full strength there were approximately 120 men under the command of a Captain RL Moorfoot.
Today, the gun emplacement remains on Hummock Hill have achieved State heritage status and act as a memorial to that perilous period in our nation's history and to Whyalla's wartime role.
[Reference: A Ribbon of Steel. Whyalla Surges Ahead; Sue Scheiffers 1985, reprinted 1992.]
War time gun emplacements heritage listedThe Hummock Hill gun emplacements have Any development affecting them or their surroundings This protection has been put in place to ensure that any |
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