Burney Young's Mount Templeton Station

Mt Templeton estate homestead. Probably built in the 1870s when the property totalled 41,000 acres. In the background is Mount Templeton.

The first pastoralists at Mount Templeton were Philip Butler (of Mallala) and Alexander Grant who took up a 27 square mile leasehold in 1851 which covered most of what were to become the Hundreds of Stow, Everard and Goyder.

In 1854 a trig point for surveyors was established on the highest peak here which was called Mount Templeton, probably after one of the surveyors.

In the early 1860s most of the run was resumed and taken up by Edmund Bowman of Werocata on the Wakefield River. He used the name Mount Templeton for it.

(Read more about Edmund Bowman at Claremuseum.com)

Mt Templeton from the east, with water pipeline in the foreground.

In 1868 Charles Burney Young (7 July 1824 – 29 September 1904) bought up land previously held by Bowman when he purchased most of the Hundred of Stow and parts of the Hundred of Everard. He called his freehold property Mount Templeton Station.

• He acquired extensive landholdings, including Mount Templeton Station, Macumba Station, and large tracts in areas like The Hummocks, Andamooka, Port Broughton, and Port Pirie.

• Young was also involved in early agricultural practices, leasing land for farming and cultivating wheat on a large scale.

• He recognized the potential of Port Pirie early on, purchasing a significant portion of the town and subsequently profiting from its development. 

• In February 1856 Young was appointed Draughtsman with the Public Works Department, and by September 1856 was working as a surveyor.

• ​In June 1884 Charles Burney Young sold his Mount Templeton Station to Messrs Freebairn, Hall and Young.

• He had been elected to the SA Legislative Council in 1878 and began disposing of his lands. (Served 09 Sep 1878 - 31 May 1880)

Read more at Snowtownmuseum.org | Mt Templeton