The Tantanoola Tiger

In 1893 there were reports of a strange tiger looking animal roaming the area. The reports continued for some years. In 1895 a strange animal was killed and it was discovered it was an Assyrian Wolf. The animal was stuffed and is today on display in the Tantanoola Hotel. This was our next stop and we spent a couple of nights there. The free camp is situated at the railway station and is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. It is sad to see the vandalism that has taken place at the station – broken windows, burnt floors. The camp has toilets and a dump point. The pub is across the road and is worth a visit for a drink and a meal. The pub is only open some days. The name Tantanoola comes from the aboriginal word tentunola meaning boxwood or camp. Originally part of Mayurra Station, the town developed with the coming of the railway (1876) between Mt Gambier and Adelaide. The town was originally called Lucieton after the then Governor Jervois's daughter Lucy in 1879. Governor Robinson changed the name to Tantanoola in 1888.