It is widely believed that in the year 1849 there were up to thirty cu$ers dredging native angasi oysters in the bays near Kellidie Bay. This se$lement soon became known as Oyster Town. This small town was established rather quickly. Huts were constructed for the #shermen and their families, who brought various animals and other necessities needed for their survival. The oyster #shermen of Oyster Town worked all day long, most days until dusk, cleaning the oysters of the foreign ma$er that grew on their shells, probably discarding them on shore. The oysters were then bedded down, live, in the waters of Kellidie Bay until market day, held every fortnight, when Oyster Town would become a hive of activity. Up to thirty bullock wagons from Port Lincoln, each drawn by four or six bullocks, two abreast, would travel the 48 km to Oyster Town. Loaded with up to 25 bags, each holding approximately 350 oysters, the wagons would then return to Port Lincoln with the oysters for local consumption and shipment to Port Adelaide, to feed consumers in the new city of Adelaide. Sadly, as a result of over#shing, the oyster #shery faced an o!cial closure for seven out of nine years between 1882 and 1891, probably contributing to the likely end date to this semi-permanent small se$lement. Restoration e"orts to restore the native oyster beds are now underway, led by the local team at “Eyrelab”. Oyster Town has le% li$le evidence of its existence in the 1840s, and the land is now part of the Kellidie Bay Conservation Park. There are currently two modern shacks situated on the site where Oyster Town once existed. visitco!nbay.com.au/oysters 9
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