James Stein

James Stein (c.1804 – 25 October 1877) was a pioneering settler of the Mid North of South Australia and founder of the Kadlunga pastoralism estate.

In 1829, the distillery interests of Stein’s father and uncles, who had earlier been much connected at Canonmills with whisky distillers James and John Haig, struck financial difficulties and all related partnerships were dissolved.

[3] Young James Stein, having the benefit of a good education, then sought to make his own fortune in Australia, arriving at Sydney in September 1833 on the ship Sir John Roe Reid.

[5] In 1839 in Sydney he joined up with several other young gentlemen of the Yass district, namely Charles Campbell, Evelyn Sturt, and William Hardy in a livestock overlanding venture.

The base of Stein’s holdings was Kadlunga homestead, which he founded in a vale beneath Mount Horrocks, about three kilometres west of present Mintaro.

An early partner (and successor) in Stein’s Mid North pastoralism ventures was John Oakden, a nephew of Colonial Treasurer Osmond Gilles.

Stein participated prominently in community life in the Mid North, including as a promoter and judge of horseracing events, magistrate, and (until his resignation in 1853) as Justice of the Peace.

[11] Employed as a humble pound keeper at The Springs Ponds near Millicent, he enforced the Livestock Impounding Act while residing in a mere hut.

[15] Stein Hill, 605m, a prominence in the north Mount Lofty Ranges about 7.5 kilometres south east of Burra, bears his name.