Parndana Soldier Settlement Museum 

The Parndana Soldier Settlement Museum is a modern historical display telling the stories of the development of the soldier settlement scheme in the early 1950s. A short stop will give you a snapshot of the lives of the settler's. Tales of logging, chaining, dozing and lavvy lane will capture your imagination. In an era before 240 volt power, good roads and telephones, the innovation and humour shown by this generation is a delight.

The hall was built by the Returned Services League and dedicated as a memorial to Soldier Settlement, the building now contains memorabilia, photographs and stories relating to the development of Parndana and surrounding districts. Prior to World War Two Kangaroo Island was populated mainly in the eastern section. The area settled by ex-servicemen was virgin scrub.

The museum tells of how the land was cleared and improved for farming. 174 ex-servicemen and their families came to Kangaroo Island to be farmers after the war. They were pioneers, housed in ex- army camp huts while waiting to move their farms and a life of hard work and difficult conditions. The stories tell of their experiences, hardships, fellowship and humour that saw them successfully reshape their lives and build a community to be proud of.