Dowlingville is a locality in the Australian state of South Australia located on the east coast of Yorke Peninsula immediately adjoining Gulf St Vincent about 89 kilometres north-west of the state capital of Adelaide. Its boundaries were created in May 1999.
This is essentially a farming district, so that it is not surprising to find only a few houses, a store, a post office conducted by Mr. Whittaker, a State school, in charge of Mrs Lewis and a church. Only a few years ago this country was covered with scrub. Industry and manures have transformed the district considerably...The name of the locality is considered to have been derived from a Mr G.P. Dowling Whittaker who was an early resident. As of 1904, it was described as follows:
The locality contains the historic former Dowlingville Post Office, which is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.
As of 2014, the majority land use within the locality is “primary production.” Dowlingville is located within the federal division of Grey, the state electoral district of Goyder and the local government area of the Yorke Peninsula Council.
According to "The History of the Downgville Post Office" the name Downingville was originally created by early settlers George and John Whittaker, who after being given the privilage of naming the region, took thier mother's maiden name Dowling and added "ville.
Early records make mention of an "unofficial" Post Office being operated by Sarah Whittaker, wife of John Whittaker, as early as 1890.
The Whittakers association with the postal services continued through the years.
After the turn of the century, the Downingville community had grown considerably, and a decision was made to upgrade the postal service, A wood and iron building was erected by the community on John Whittakers property to be used as the Post Office. In March 1916, John was appointed as Postmaster at Downingville.
Initially, mail deliveries came via Ardrossan twice a week, but with the building of the railway line between Kadina and Moonta, Downingville then came under the Melton (in the South Hummoks) to Ardrossan mail route, with mail received and dispatched three times a week.
In the following years up to 1937, the community-built Post Office was moved, some six times, to new locations.
At one stage, about 1919, during the heydays of the then active Dowlingville School, the Post Office was actually located in the school grounds, and the teacher, Miss Mabel Tapp, would hand the children their family mail to take home after school each day. Miss Tapp. took over from John Whittaker as Postmistress.
In 1930, a Mrs Adelaide Crosby was appointed as Postmistress, to be followed in 1933 by John J.H.Whittaker who became Postmaster with his eldest daughter, Irene Whittaker, taking on the role of the acting Postmistress. Once again, the Post Office was relocated, this time near to the Methodist (now Uniting) Church.
John's daughters mainly operated the Post Office, Irene, was involved up to about 1936. From then on, the major responsibility fell upon the younger daughter, Jean. Jean continued until August 1937 when John resigned as Postmaster.
When Jean left the Post Office in 1937, Miss Laurel Allen became Postmistress, leaving in April,1944