REMAINS OF A DIPROTODON FOUND.

 In 1924, The Mail (newspaper) reported that Professor Walter Howchin unearthed the bones of a Diprotodon at Gawler. It also reported that other bones had been found in the bed of the River Torrens, and at Lake Callabonna in the States far north.[1]

 In 1936, describing Gawler’s river system, the Bunyip newspaper referred to a Kaurna people allegory of the Moole Yerke Perre, a large ‘weird antediluvian monster (that) was responsible for the permanent marks made by its nose and shins,’ in the riverbeds and banks. The Bunyip reporter then links this creature to the 1891 discovery of Diprotodon fossils in Gawler.[2]

The Bunyip reported on the original 1891 find of bones,

Scientific Discovery at Gawler South.

REMAINS OF A DIPROTODON FOUND.

A discovery of more than ordinary interest was made at Gawler South a few days ago by some workmen who were excavating a tank on the property of Mr. Thomas Molan.  When they had sunk about 8 ft. they came upon a deposit of bones. At first, they took very little notice, and as they were very crumbly shovelled them out with the clay.
 After a time the size of some of the bones attracted their curiosity, and one of the members of the Gawler Geological Class having been communicated with it was thought to be the remains of the extinct Australian marsupial, the diprotodon.
  Mr. W. Howchin, F.G.S., the lecturer of the Gawler Geological and Mineralogical Class was informed, and came up on Wednesday afternoon. He at once confirmed the opinion. Bones continued to show themselves right across the tank and to a depth of 11 ft. At the latter depth a portion of the head was unearthed, and as it was desired to get it out as perfectly as possible it was decided to obtain the services of Mr. A. Zielz, of the Adelaide Museum.
  That gentleman came up yesterday morning, and completed the exhumation, although he had to be content to get the head out in pieces. The diprotodon is said to have lived in the post-Pliocene age — before the age of man and was about the size of an elephant. Its head was about 3 ft. in length. Very few remains of the species have been discovered, and the best skeleton is said to be in possession of the Adelaide Museum it having been obtained from the Burra district recently. No complete skeleton, however, has yet been found. It is impossible to tell yet how complete the present skeleton is as the bones are so broken, but Mr. Zietz does not think it will be as perfect as that obtained from the Burra.
   All the bones were carefully packed in cases with sawdust preparatory to being sent to the Adelaide Museum for reconstruction. Just as they were about to be taken away the owner of the property appeared on the scene and declined to allow them to go to Adelaide unless he was paid £10. As Mr. Zietz could not promise that amount without consulting his Committee, the cases were placed in the hands of Mr. E. Potter, the Chairman of the Gawler Geological Class, until a decision is arrived at.
 A large number of persons visited the scene of the discovery yesterday. Mr. W. H. Percy, who was working on the property, rendered valuable assistance in getting the remains out, and the contractor, Mr. James Peek offered every facility.[3]

Perhaps, when recollecting in a 1952 issue of The Advertiser Ernest L.B. Potter of Croydon, he remembered wrongly that his uncle Edward Potter had discovered the Diprotodon, instead of Professor Howchin. In an Out Among the People column, it was reported,

ERNEST L. B. Potter (West Croydon) tells me that as a boy of 10, about 1890, he remembers a diprotodon skull being found in an excavation for an underground tank at Gawler South, near Dead Man's Pass on the South Para and the road to One Tree Hill. His uncle, Edward Potter, a geologist, pronounced it to be a diprotodon.[4]

 

The skull and bones found in Gawler were identified as those of a Diprotodon from the Pleistocene Epoch of Australia.  Diprotodon Optatum became extinct about 25, 000 years ago and was known to exist while indigenous populations were in the area. These animals grew up to 3.8 meters long from head to tail and stood about 1.7 meters tall at the shoulder.  Its closest relations today are the wombat and the koala.

For more information on the Diprotodon, please visit here: Diprotodon: Not a wombat

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2024.

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[1] 'Prehistoric Times In South Australia', The Mail, (1 March 1924), p. 1.

[2] 'Early Gawler And District Nomenclature.', Bunyip, (11 December 1936), p. 8. 

[3] 'Scientific Discovery at Gawler South.', Bunyip, (24 July 1891), p. 2.

[4] 'Out Among The People', The Advertiser, (2 September 1952), p. 4.