Farming, quarrying, building, thatching, and public works like road-making and bridge-building all featured in the town’s formative days. Investment in the township and its environs was plentiful it was home to Evelyn, the brother of Captain Charles Sturt. It was a farming, vine and almond growing community, with a focus on slate quarrying, and a resting place for travellers from Adelaide to the Fleurieu Peninsula. In1839 Willunga became the second settlement in South Australia. No other place, and no other person, is known in SA to have taken such an intiative or practiced such a craft.

The Willows were chosen and planted for the specific purpose of osier production, the pliable willow rods needed for weaving. See attachment above for the full story LocationĪlong Wirra Creek Willunga, in what began as the 'Government Reserve', a campsite for early surveyors and settlers Otherįew places in South Australia have a permanent creek suited to willow growing. One of his wicker chairs is on display at the Old Willunga Courthouse, courtesy of the National Trust of SA History He was the only recorded exhibitor of the craft of basket weaving, which he practiced for 40 years.

He also exhibited his work in the Willunga and Adelaide Shows, in which he won commendations. William Morton bought land adjacent to a permanent watercourse so that he could grow basker willows for the local rural community. These two trees, and two others nearby, created a unique settler opportunity to develop a craft that benefitted the local people, namely basket weaving.

Weeping willow by ruth white