1836
First Colonists arrive in South Australia
1840
Governor Gawler losses his compass in this area – named Mount Compass
1842
County of Hindmarsh proclaimed – to assist with land transactions
1846
First “Hundreds” proclaimed – including Nangkita, Myponga & Kuitpo
1851
New land regulations provide for Pastoral Leases of up to 14 years length instead of the annual ‘occupation licences’
1855
Mr Lush’s tavern (aka wine shanty) opens at Square Waterhole
1857
‘Responsible Government’ granted to South Australians by the Governor under authority of the British Government – first meeting of SA Parliament held
1858
Torrens Real Property Act passed – single Certificates of Title for individual allotments created which also record transfer of ownership
1859
Crown Land sold to P D Prankerd (Sect 1769) & E E Hewett (Sect 1770) in Hundreds of Nangkita & Kondoparinga (Nangkita Rd/Stones Ford Road)
1867
Newly surveyed land near River Finniss (Hd Kondoparinga) auctioned by Government – Sections 1933 to 1984 advertised for sale (Mt Magnificent area)
1867
1st house – a Stationman/Roadman’s Cottage built in Mt Compass by Thomas O’Callaghan
1869
Waste Lands Management Act (or Strangways Act) passed – Crown Land blocks of up to 640 acres are now sold on credit. Pastoralists can be given 6 months notice of their land being resumed (reclaimed) by the Government
1871
The Roadman’s original cottage destroyed by fire & is rebuilt by T O’Callaghan
1874
George Waye appointed as the new Roadman
1880s
A series of droughts hit South Australia
1884
Gardner Brothers Estate of 19,000 acres in this area advertised for sale – includes land which will become the town’s future retail area
1885
“Working Men’s Blocks” scheme commences where the Government offers smaller blocks on a 21 year lease to men who live ‘by their own labour’
1888
Government Land Sales – Miscellaneous Leases in Hundred of Nangkita sold to W S Gardner, J Smith, Hailstone Brothers, G Waye & J Chitnal
1890-93
Severe depression leading to an Australian banking crisis in 1893
1890
Wright Brothers gardening in Mt Compass on land rented from Lease holder Henry McConville
1893
Mt Compass re-surveyed with smaller “Working Men’s Blocks” along the Main Road swamp land – on resumed pastoral land
1893
Village Settlement Act passed – for Co-operatives of more than 20 people
1894
Nangkita Village Settlement established by the Government to provide a living for unemployed men & their families (25 men from Port Adelaide)
1894
Nangkita School opened
1894
First Post Office in Mt Compass (operated by Mr Will Wright)
1896
Mount Compass Agricultural Bureau formed
1898
Literary Society formed in Mt Compass – meeting in the empty Roadman’s Cottage which was also being used as the local meeting hall.
1899
1st dairy cow brought into the district by Richard Peters – an imported Jersey
1899
1st school commences in Mt Compass at the old Roadman’s Cottage- 11 students
1901
Herbert Waye offers 2 acres of his land for the new District Hall
1902
1st Agricultural Show held at the Roadman’s Cottage
1903
New Hall built on H Waye’s two acres –opened on 28th December
1904
£120 ($240) bank loan taken out over 15 years to cover remaining Hall costs
1904
Mt Compass School moves across to new hall
1908
Local orchardist C S Hancock wins a Gold Medal for his exported apples at the Franco-British Exhibition in London
1909
Tooperang Post Office opened – closed in 1974
1909
Rockwood School (Tooperang) opened with 25 pupils
1909
Reported that there were now more than 50 houses in the district
1912
Bank refuses to extend Hall loan period – Mr David Wright pays out the loan and takes over the debt
1915
Compass Heights surveyed – 430 acres cut up into 4 acre blocks & sold to 101 individuals with the aim of increasing the votes for a railway to Willunga
1915
Howard Peters first WW1 volunteer to enlist from this district
1916
Church of Christ built in Mt Compass – demolished 2014
1916
24 foot well sunk alongside Hall for water trough
1918
WW1 Memorial Pines planted alongside Hall
1920
Four indigenous Australians seen at Blackfellows Creek – believed to be final tribal visit to their country
1924
Nangkita – Mt Compass Football team established
1927-29
Severe drought
1928
Horace Green installs the first overhead sprinkler system in this area at his farm in Tooperang
1929
The start of the ‘Great Depression’ – continues into the mid 1930s
1930
Enterprise Colony started by the Church of Christ to help families during the depression years. Later handed over to the Government.
1931
Declaration of Trust signed – sets out the “Committee of Management of the Mount Compass Public Hall”. Consists of 5 Trustees + 3 elected members
1932
First cricket match in Mt Compass (earlier teams at Nangkita & Blackfellow’s Creek, in the 1920s)
1932
Yundi Settlement started with 19 small blocks for poultry farming as a Government project for the unemployed
1934
Mt Compass school opened on present site in new brick building with 56 students
1934
Yundi school opened – corner of Burma & Yundi Roads
1935
Nangkita Methodist Church opened – built with volunteer labour
1936
Extra land purchased from Mrs Ida Garden to extend the town recreational area
1937
1st town oval on current site constructed using volunteer labour
1937
First Bank Manager (Mr Slater) operating a Bank of Adelaide 2 days a week, a butcher (Mr Watson), a General Store and Bakery (Beaumonts), Garage (I K Arthur), Blacksmith (Mr Fookes) and Post Office all operating in Mt Compass
1939
Electric lighting installed in Mt Compass Hall by I K Arthur - powered (when required) by a generator situated across the road
1939
Quotes to either extend the Hall or build a new Hall sought
1939
Albert Waye gives part of his land for the present cemetery
1936
Girl Guides and Brownies formed
1939-45
World War 2
1943
Volunteer Defence Corps (Home Guard) formed in Mt Compass
1945
Tooperang Progress Committee formed
1946
Mt Compass History Book published by the Literary Society – “Mt Compass, The First Hundred Years”
1946
Mount Compass Co-operative Store Ltd formed – continues until 1963
1946-47
Oval rebuilt over two seasons using volunteer labour
1950
Extra acre of land adjoining oval purchased from the Nitschke family
1953
Hall Committee receives petition calling for a public meeting to consider building a new Hall and to become an incorporated body
1953
The Mount Compass War Memorial Community Centre is incorporated four months after this meeting
1954
The removal of 19 Soldier’s Memorial pine trees from site near the Hall is authorised to make room for the new Memorial Hall
1954
Making of cement blocks for new kitchen commences & foundations laid by volunteers
1954
Electricity arrives in Mt Compass
1955
New kitchen attached to Hall is completed using volunteer labour and home-made bricks (the existing kitchen)
1955
Secondary year commences at Mt Compass School
1956
RSL Clubrooms opened - built by volunteer labour
1956
Dairy Vale factory (United Co-operative Dairymen Ltd) opens
1956
Tooperang Soldiers Memorial Hall opened
1957
Foundations for new Mt Compass War Memorial Hall laid
1957
1st Football change rooms built
1958
Premier Thomas Playford opens newly completed Hall on 20th June
1958
Bank loan of £3,000 ($6,000) taken out to cover remaining Hall costs
1959
Yundi War Memorial Hall opened by Geoff O’Halloran Giles MP
1959
WW1 and WW2 Honour Roll unveiled in the Mt Compass Hall
1960
Further land adjoining the Community Centre purchased from I K Arthur
1961
Lutheran Church opened in Mt Compass
1962
Mt Compass School becomes an Area School. Rockwood (Tooperang), Prospect Hill & Yundi Schools closed (1961-1963)
1963
Monthly Entre Nous newsletter started by the Community Centre – printed up until 2013
1970
Mt Compass Basketball Club changes name to Mt Compass Netball Club
1974
First Compass Cup held – organised by Mt Compass Rural Youth
1985
New Sports & Social Club complex opened on the town oval
1986
Burgess Oval land purchased by District Council with additional funding from Mt Compass War Memorial Community Centre Inc
1987
Mains water supply arrives in Mt Compass
1990
Angela Bannon unveils bicentennial quilt wall hanging in Memorial Hall
1991
New CFS station opened
1993
School Boardwalk opened – built by students and parents on school wetlands
1996
Time capsule placed at new Cow Sculpture – to be opened in the year 2046
1996
Dairy Vale factory closes
1997
Fleurieu Golf Course clubrooms opened – includes a new residential zone
1998
New Tennis Clubrooms opened by patron Cynthia Bowles
1999
RSL Hall ownership handed over to the Mt Compass War Memorial Community Centre Inc. RSL sub-branch closed same year
2005
Mt Compass History Book “Where the Compass Leads You” published by Linton Jacobs
2012
Wetland construction project commences alongside Sam Court
2012
Retail area landscaping & parking redevelopment commences
2016
‘Compass Central’ shopping centre development opened by Dorothy Childs
2016
Memorial Hall renovations and new foyer opened by Ronda Arthur
2019
Book 2 of “Where the Compass Leads You” History Book published
2024
Melita’s IGA purchased by Drakes