Stansbury sits on the pristine sheltered waters of Oyster Bay in Gulf St Vincent, against a background of Norfolk Pines. Located on the Yorke Peninsula, a two and a half hour drive from Adelaide, Stansbury is centrally located for access to Innes National Park (110 kilometres to the south) and the Copper Coast (110 kilometres to the north) making it an ideal base to explore the region.
The Mediterranean climate, sandy beach and calm waters of the bay are ideal for beach activities, swimming and water-skiing. The well-maintained foreshore features one of the best children’s playgrounds on the peninsula, with two colourful play stations. There are also shaded barbecue and picnic facilities along the foreshore and at the jetty reserve.
An all-tide two-lane boat ramp, beach and jetty fishing provide the angler with plenty of opportunity for fishing. Popular seasonal catches include King George whiting, garfish, mullet, Tommies and squid. Blue Swimmer Crabs can be raked from the shallows (in season), or netted from the jetty or boat. The oyster farms supply fresh, locally-produced oysters straight from the sea when in season, so keep your eye out for signs.
Attractions:
Stansbury Coastal Trail extends from Mills Gully to Pitts Cutting and is six kilometres in length.
The name Stansbury came into being when Governor Sir Anthony Musgrave renamed it in 1873, after his friend Mr Stansbury. Find out more about the town’s history at the Stansbury Museum.
Enjoy the bustling Stansbury Seaside Markets that are held on the foreshore from October to March.
The first settler in the district was Alfred Weaver, who brought 7,000 sheep with him. Weaver built a shearing shed in 1846 where Stansbury now stands. Due to the abundance of oysters found in the bay, Stansbury was originally known as Oyster Bay and had a reputation for the best oysters in South Australia. For a number of years, there were between 15 and 20 oyster dredges working the bay, until eventually it was fished out.