Early Nairne

Nairne was founded in1839 by Matthew Smillie.He named it after his wife Elizabeth Corse Nairne.

Matthew Smillie died in1847. His wife died in 1861. His son died overseas. Matthew Smillie owned from the valleys around Nairne to the hotel in Littlehamptom. He also lived in the valleys and was a farmer.
The Peramangk were the first aborigines in Nairne before Matthew Smillie settled here. They ate kangaroo, wallabies, galahs, honey, seeds and berries, yabbies and fish. They wore possum skins, kangaroo skins and bone all ground up.
The Peramangks' land stretched from  Mt Lofty to Gawler and Angaston, Wright Hill, Strathalbyn, Kanmantoo.

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The Nairne Post Office

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