Utunyah has an interesting history used by local aboriginal tribes for water during their hunting trips and early pioneer families as a swimming hole and meeting place. The Driver River Methodist church was founded on its banks by Mr Alan Cowley and is still actively used by locals. Utunyah is currently used as a &B and on farm accomedation. The Homestead was built in 1910 and a cottage which is used as guest accomedation was joined to the homestead using jetty pilons as uprights in 1986. Two cottages were added in 1984 on the banks of the Utunyah rock hole. Elkanah is a three bedroom log cabin and is well used, Shiloh a larger house with mud brick walls is "at lock up stage" and  a bush camping site overlooking the waterhole is being developed.  Currently used as a B&B and  Farm stay accomedation, using the homestead and a 3 bdr log cabin overlooking the waterhole. A beautifull peacefull setting, swimming relaxing magnificent sunsets and bush walking through 300 acres of pristine scrub land where the water from the rockholes meet the Driver River.

Utunyah has a rich history.

Geological, aboriginal, early settlement and local community use. (see below)

   See other links for more description under Utunyah Retreat.

       GEOLOGICAL

Utunyah Rockholes feature on the earliest maps. A small granite outcrop with permanent saltwater springs that have never known to run dry. A noted swimming hole over 200 metres long and 10-20 metres wide with a unique hot spring. The granite has influenced the soil type with Native pine (Calitris Pruessi) an indicator of the rich red brown soil.

     ABORIGINAL HISTORY

 Utunyah is the name given to the rock holes and means "passing through". Local tribal groups used this area as a camping ground particularly on hunting trips where two fault lines in the granite provided fresh water during winter or after Summer thunder storms where water collected. Utunyah was placed strategically 20km from the Cleve Hills and 20km from the Wharminda soaks where fresh water could be found. Water was not permeant hence the name Utunyah. Chippings from making artefacts have been found with Jasper and Chalcedonite shards carried from the Gawler Ranges.

    LOCAL COMMUNITY USE

 Not only was Utunyah a meeting place for indigenous groups but also is common for local families to meet and swim and play in the water hole. Particularly in hot weather before good transport allowed people to visit the local beaches. Today it is a great spot for a swim and BBQ. A regular historic event was Guy Fawkes night where a truck load of mallee roots were tipped out on the bank to provide "a bushie" with 50-100 locals coming in to share the evening and let off fire works and cook sausages on a wire netting frame. Charcoal remains are still evident of these community nights.

   EARLY SETTLEMENT

This property is part of the county of Jervois and Section 28 in the Hundred of Roberts. Farming blocks of 1800-2,000 acres in Roberts and Verran were released in 1908-1910.The story is told of Mr Len Cowley the early pioneer catching the ketch to Tumby Bay and pushing his bike through the scrub some 70km to climb Mt Priscilla and survey the virgin scrub before him. He recorded in his diary that the vegetation on sect 28 was greener than the rest of the surrounding country. This observation proved to be true and Sect28 has always been regarded as the most productive land in the district. Mr Cowley was had a strong Christian faith and the Driver River Church was founded at Utunyah he also donated land at Verran where the Methodist Church was built and still serves a vibrant community.

Selling the property in the 1930's to shift to Pt Lincoln it has had many owners since including Gale, Eagle, Schramm and Masters.