Muston: Salt History and Railway

Muston combines a distinctive salt and railway history with a connection to nature through Pelican Lagoon. If you’re looking for holiday accommodation on Kangaroo Island, the town offers two different perspectives: its historic traces of salt, rail and shipping, or the lagoon as a natural attraction. You can choose Muston based on whichever aspect is of most interest to you on your trip.

Salt at Muston Lake

In the early 19th century, salt was scraped from the surface of Muston Lake. It was used to preserve meat and tan hides. These two uses give salt production a practical, everyday connection: salt played a role both in preserving food and in processing hides.

Railway and jetty

Another part of the story concerns the transport of fine salt. It was taken by rail to Muston Jetty on the American River. The jetty was built to load salt for shipment to Edithburgh for processing. This clearly distinguishes the rail transport, loading point and processing destination. The name Muston also has a railway connection: the place where the railway reached the American River later became known as Muston.

Before 1910, Muston Jetty was 57.3 metres long; in 1910, Kangaroo Island’s first and only railway was completed at Muston. This sequence provides a helpful historical reference: the jetty’s length is described as it was before the railway was completed, while 1910 marks the year the railway was finished. Together, these details provide a sense of scale and a chronological reference point for Muston’s transport history. The superlative applies to the island as a whole, while the length refers to Muston Jetty; the two describe different scales of the town’s history.

Pelican Lagoon and accommodation

Pelican Lagoon is ecologically significant and designated as a Sanctuary Zone within the Encounter Bay Marine Park. As a natural attraction, it differs from the salt history of Muston Lake: the lagoon is noted for its designated ecological significance, while Muston Lake is associated with historic salt production.

Pelican Cottage is a tastefully renovated, self-contained two-bedroom cottage in a nature-friendly garden that attracts birds. It is located in Muston on the shores of Pelican Lagoon. If you’re looking for holiday accommodation for your stay, you can first consider whether Muston appeals to you mainly for its history or its connection to the lagoon.

For a trip with children, the historical details can prompt two separate questions: What was the salt scraped from Muston Lake used for, and what role did the railway play in transporting fine salt? This offers everyday and transport history as different starting points for conversations together.

Discover more destinations: Emu Bay, Baudin Beach, Cygnet River, D'Estrees Bay, Wisanger, Stokes Bay, American River, Brown Beach

For the broader travel overview: Kangaroo Island Council.