The records show that there were about 17,000 visitors to 
this reserve for the year ending June 30, 1935, at week-ends and 
on holidays. 
Some of the houses bordering the roadway leading to this 
reserve, or in its vicinity, are of considerable interest historically 
as being the home of prominent or well-known pioneers. For 
instance, on a commanding position on the left-hand side soon 
after entering the gully stands “Kurralta’ (meaning “on the 
hill”), which was the home of Dr. William Wyatt. He arrived 
in South Australia in February, 1837, in the ship John Renwick , 
and held several important positions, including those of First 
Colonial Surgeon, Inspector of Schools, Chairman of the 
Adelaide Hospital Board, and Protector of Aborigines. He has 
also been described as a friend of the aborigines and he certainly 
secured more humane treatment for them. “Kurralta,” which 
was bought by Dr. Wyatt in 1843, consisted of ninety acres, 
and the house, which has been occupied since 1916 by Mr. P. 
Ifould, must be one of the oldest in the State — nearly ninety 
years is an estimate. Dr. Wyatt conferred a great benefit on the 
community by leaving valuable city property to form the Wyatt 
Benevolent Trust. It is said that it was after Colonel Light had 
walked to the top of the Green Hill (which overlooks Waterfall 
Gully and from which there is a magnificent view) that he 
decided on the present site as the capital of South Australia. 
Then there was the Hon. Boyle Travers Finniss, who arrived 
in the Cygnet in 1836, and who was Premier of the first Parlia- 
ment, Treasurer of the Province, and Acting Administrator of 
the Government. He occupied the property (eighty acres) 
known as “Finniss Brook,” on the opposite side of the gully to 
Dr. Wyatt. It is stated that prior to Mr. Finniss acquiring this 
property in December, 1840, there was a sawmill on it, which 
Mr. John Cannan wished to have worked by water power, and 
that Mr. Thos. Cain secured the contract for making the wheel, 
which was made of red-gum timber, and had a diameter of 
eighteen feet. It was operated by a race from Waterfall Gully 
Creek. Mr. Finniss had the sawmill turned into a flour mill, 
making it into a four-storey building and fitting it with machinery 
and stones. 
“Finniss Brook” was sold by Mr. Finniss to Mr. George 
Soward, who lived there from 1859 to 1876. Besides being one 
of the first two aldermen of the Municipality of Kensington 
and Norwood (1853), he was later Chairman of the Burnside 
District Council. 
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