Hidden beneath the waters of the Myponga Reservoir, along the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, lies the underwater town of Lovely Valley. Once a thriving community, it was flooded in the 1960s to make way for the reservoir. Though the town is now covered by water, traces of its past continue to spark the interest of historians and the imaginations of locals.
Some people have shared stories of how, when water levels were low, the top of a church steeple or the cross on top of its tower could sometimes appear above the surface. It’s left many wondering what other secrets lie hidden beneath the reservoir’s depths.
The mystery of Lovely Valley saw the District Council of Yankalilla and SA Water team up to investigate the area’s past. Their research revealed that before the reservoir was built, Lovely Valley was settled by Europeans in the mid-1800s. The name “Lovely Valley” dates back to 1838, and the area was known for its farms, roads, and even a school in the late 1800s. By the 1950s, as South Australia’s population grew, the state’s need for more water led to the creation of the Myponga Reservoir, and Lovely Valley was chosen to be flooded.
In the late 1950s, the government began relocating homes, businesses, and roads. One of the homes lost belonged to the Eatts family, who had settled in the area in 1846 (if you go searching in Myponga, you’ll find a street named after them). By the 1960s, most of Lovely Valley was underwater.
Local stories tell of a church steeple and the top of a church cross that once stood above the water. When the water levels were lower, people could sometimes see the outlines of old roads and buildings beneath the surface, offering a glimpse of the town that had once been there.
Today, one of the best places to view the remains of this lost town is the Homestead Ruin Lookout, along the reservoir’s walking trails. From here, visitors can see what is believed to be a farmhouse once owned by the Eatts family. Nearby ruins may also be linked to homes built for workers during the reservoir’s construction.
Though the town is now hidden beneath the water, its story is far from forgotten, and many locals are still looking into it. Visitors to the Myponga Reservoir can hike the trails, enjoy the views, and investigate themselves about the once-lively town of Lovely Valley.
For more information on the Myponga Reservoir, visit reservoirs.sa.gov.au.
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