A descriptive name applied to a physical feature in the Hundred of Muloowurtie 37 km south-east of Maitland. The Aborigines knew it as kudlaworti - lonely man', which name was adopted by Stephen Goldsworthy (c.1826-1897) on 10 October 1854 'at Black Point' (lease no. 384), because of his isolation from fellow white men.
Black Point, originally called Koolywurtie Point, was colloqually called Black Point because it was an Aboriginal camping ground.
At this location a long narrow peninsula of rock and mud extends out into the water. The natives called it "Koolywurtie" which meant "Dirty Tail." The early settlers preferred to call it "Black Point."
"However, it was not until 1877 that a commission, appointed by the government, made inquiries into the best site for a permanent quarantine station. Among the sites examined were Black Point, Wedge Island, Wauraltee or Wardang Island, Althorpe Island, a peninsula at the mouth of the American River, a promontory at Kingscote, and Point Marsden. Their strong recommendation was Black Point on the eastern shore of Yorke Peninsula and 30 miles from Semaphore.
In June 1877 the Colton government decided on Wardang Island as the preferred site but, heeding the advice of the Surveyor-General as to the lack of available
water there and its isolation from Adelaide, Torrens Island was approved in 1878. By mid-1879 it was established and proclaimed by a notice that appeared in the Government Gazette on 15 September 1881 and comprised the whole of the island with the exception of 15 sections."
In June of 1877, because of the prevalence of smallpox on incoming ships, a quarantine station was erected here.
Between 1870 and 1880, 300 children on Yorke Peninsula died of typhoid or diphtheria. On one occasion 50 died of measles within 5 days.
Many people were concerned that the quarantine station was not sufficiently isolated and it was eventually shifted to Torrens Island.
