Albert Howard (Bert) Warland married Caroline Lottie Cakebread (nee Rumbelow) on 26th September 1900. 

Bert Warland was somewhat of a legend around Encounter Bay. Bert was born at Strathalbyn and grew to be a tall, broad shouldered man with strong features and thick black hair and moustache. 

Those of us who remember him as an older man when we were young, liken him to “Rumpole of the Bailey”. 

History shows him as a hard worker with an enormous sense of community. The information following is based on notes made by Archibald McLean, a relative of Bert’s mother, Harriet Warland nee McLean. 

In 1900, when Bert and Caroline were married, they were Sunday School teachers at the Congregational Church at Victor Harbor. 

He had a deep bass voice and sang at concerts, sometimes duets with Caroline, who was a soprano. They moved from a cottage in Victoria Street to the family home on Mill Road, Encounter Bay.

In 1897, Bert Warland took up a partnership with J Grosvenor with 900 acres of land in Back Valley (Sections 376E, 377 and 369). 

In 1900, Bert became District Clerk of Encounter Bay Council. 

In 1901, Bert bought out Grosvenor and became sole owner, later extending his holdings to 1223 acres. 

He split his time between Council duties and clearing the land, which included fertile swamps and grew high quality vegetables. A small dwelling was erected on the land and Edward, Bert’s father, spent a lot of time there doing odd jobs. 

In his retiring years, Bert's father Edward would go out to the farm to do odd jobs. 

Local aboriginals referred to the area as Pondiyong (also spelt Pondyong). The land was donated to the Back Valley School, which opened in 1935, and for the St Francis' Church, which opened in 1947.  The family retained the property until 1969.

Of the six children that Bert and Carolines had, 3 died at the age of 23 and another died aged 5. These tragic events greatly affected the family and Bert threw himself into civic matters. 

• Lonnen died on 17th July 1917 (aged 5). On 18 July 1917, Lonnen Trevor Warland (also known as Billy) was attempted to reach toys from a shelf, overbalanced, and fell directly into a copper of boiling water, severely scalding his upper body. He died the same night. The Journal of 29 July 1917 reported that only a year ago he had had two fingers amputated in a chaff cutter. It was reported that he said 'Never mind, they will soon grow again'. 

• Howard died on 8th January 1925 (aged 23). Howard was on the threshold of manhood, his life full of promise. After leaving school he entered the employ of Messrs. G. & R. Wills & Co., where he remained until his death. Having returned home to spend the holidays, he was taken ill and removed to the Victor Harbor Hospital, where ten days later he died.. It is believed that he had appendicitis. 

• Jean died on 28th July 1927 (aged 23) at 'Lugano' Private Hospital. The deceased who took ill on Tuesday of last week was removed from her home to the hospital, where she was under the constant vigil of Drs. Douglas and Shipway. The bereaved family and relatives have the heartfelt sympathy of the people throughout the district. They have had more than an ordinary share of losses. Of a family of three sons and three daughters, only one son and two daughters remain. Again, it is believed that Jean died from appendicitis. 

• Blythe (Mick) died on 22nd May 1933 (aged 23). Mick, the second and only surviving son of Mr and Mrs A H Warland of Victor Harbour passed away in the Crystal Brook Hospital Mick had won the affection and respect of all who had attended him during his illness, by his unflinching courage and continued hopefulness, although called upon to suffer far more than the great majority. He had never grumbled, and scarcely even asked that his pain be alleviated He bore it all without complaint: he died like a man. 

Bert Warland  became Town Clerk as well as District Clerk in 1914, and was Secretary of the New Year’s Sports Committee. 

Bert was Chairman of Peace Day Celebrations in 1919, Secretary of the War Loan, Secretary of the Australia Day Committee, Secretary of the Repatriation Committee, Secretary of the School Committee and Treasurer of the Encounter Bay race meetings. He was made a Justice of the Peace in 1923. 

His efforts saw the opening of the South Coast District Hospital in 1929 where one of its wards is named after him. Bert was a member of the hospital board of management until 1959. He arranged patriotic functions, tree planting and commemoration plaques. Through him, the council obtained land for the local oval and the Education Department secured the site for the Victor Harbour High School. 

For 51 years he worked for the District Council and was a familiar figure in his horse and sulky. 

The Soldier’s Gardens after WW1 and the sea-wall, the local oval, and many other civic improvements were due to him including his untiring promotion of tourism. His manner was brusque but he had a kind and generous heart. 

He was awarded an MBE in 1943 for outstanding service to the district. 

Warland Reserve

Warland Reserve is a fantastic destination with a range of amenities and activities for visitors to enjoy. From the peaceful green space to the nearby attractions, there is something for everyone. Families can spend the whole day creating lasting memories in this iconic park. 

Warland Reserve is centrally located between the Causeway to Granite Island and the Ocean Street shopping precinct, and features the well-known Whale Tail Fountain. This extremely popular reserve is a favourite with both locals and visitors alike and is the site of numerous community events. 

The annual Rotary Victor Harbor Art Show is now an integral part of Victor Harbor’s cultural landscape that locals and visitors eagerly anticipate. 2025 will be the 46th Art Show with over 10,000 attendees across eight days, with artwork sales exceeding $300,000. Guests enjoyed an impressive collection of over 1,300 paintings and sculptures, making it a must-see event for art enthusiasts from near and far.

Warland Reserve
Flinders Parade
Victor Harbor SA 5211

Pioneer at Victor Harbor

• News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954) 

•  Fri 23 Dec 1927 

Many interesting anecdotes are remembered and told by Mrs. Cakebread regarding the early days at Encounter Bay. She was 84 years of age on Wednesday. "You have some claim to being the heroine of Simpson Newland's 'Paving the Way?' " she was asked. "Yes, but please do not say anything about that, for I am tired of all the talk." Although long past the allotted span Mrs. Cakebread is hale and hearty. She remembers that Mr. and Mrs. Malin Rumbelow landed with their eight children at Port Adelaide on October 17, 73 years ago. The family stayed about a week at Hindmarsh and then made the trip to the new settlement at Encounter Bay by bullock dray. "It took three days to cover the dirty, dusty track," said Mrs. Cakebread. Of that noble band of pioneers of the Rumbelow family only two remain, Mrs. Cakebread and Mrs. E. R. Bolger. The family lived for a time in the first stone house built at Encounter Bay by the Rev. Ridgway Newland. The building was of three rooms, with a large space in the centre. The other rooms were lean-tos. Four acres of land were purchased by their father for £40, but afterward it was ascertained that the block was 14 acres. 

As the children married Mr. Malin Rumbelow gave each an acre of land as a wedding present. Whaling was in full swing when the family arrived at the settlement, but it subsequently languished, and although seve-ral whalers have frequented the bay during the last year it is more than 50 years since a whale has been caught. Mrs. Cakebread secured employment as a girl at a Port Elliot shop and used to walk to and from Elliot every day, a dis-tance of more than five miles. She was an adept at crochet work, and fashioned many beautiful pieces of lace. Mr. J. R. Cakebread, her husband, died at the age of 77 years. For 40 years he was an employe of the Roads and Bridges Department, and later acquired a sheeprun at Waitpinga. The family includes Mesdames Fanny Martha Bruce (Victor Harbor), Caroline Lottie Warland (Encounter Bay), Messrs. Albert P. Pullinger, and Stanley James (Victoria), Charles Jeliff and Edgar John (Encounter Bay), Sydney L. (Norwood), Harold Malin (Henley Beach), and John Rymill (Broken Hill). There are 46 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. 

Lorne Mayfield (nee Cakebread)

[4] Lorne Heywood Warland was born at Victor Harbor on 5th June 1905 and married Kenneth Norman Clarke on 14th June 1930. Lorne and Ken returned to Victor Harbor to care for Bert following Carolines death. They managed the Back Valley property, Pondyong. Ken passed in 1953. Lorne then married childhood sweetheart, Albert William Cakebread. He died in 1979. 

In 1980 Lorne married Oscar Tooley Mayfield. He died in 1981 while on holiday in Norway.

Lorne died on 23rd June 1997 at 92 years of age. 

Pioneer's daughter' dies aged 92. 

The Times (Victor Harbour) of 24 July 1997 ran the following lengthy obituary of Lorne Mayfield, which included a photograph:

Lorne Mayfield, daughter of a Victor Harbor pioneering family, died on June 23 at the age of 92. She was one of six children of Albert and Lottie Warland (nee Cakebread), of Encounter Bay. Lorne was married to Kenneth Clarke in 1905 [sic - that is when she was born, she married in 1930] in Newland Church where she was a choir member and they lived on the Clarke family property, Pine Grove near Cradock, attending the local Methodist Church. 

Having come from a very musical family and possessing a strong contralto voice, Lorne took an active part in concerts and other entertainment organised throughout the district to boost morale through depression, drought and locust plagues. A branch of the Country Women's Association was also formed which brought the women of the district together as they coped with hard times on the land. Lorne enjoyed participating and considered these years a rich and rewarding time of her life. 

Due to her mother's death and father's ill health, Lorne and Ken returned to Victor Harbor in 1947 — he - Lorne Mayfield took over the Warland's Back Valley property, Pondyong, while she cared for her father. Ken Clarke died in 1953 and about three years later, Lorne married her cousin, Albert Cakebread from Victoria and following the death of her father in 1960 in his 87th year, the couple settled on the Back Valley property. 

There they endeared themselves to local residents, particularly with their Cakies Christmas party which was the highlight of the year. She also joined the Lower Inman Ladies Guild. As time passed Bert's energy was unable to match the demands of the large property and the land, which had been in the Warland family since 1897, was cut into smaller holdings and sold. The Cakebreads left the Valley in 1970 and moved into their new house in Cakebread Road — Bert died in 1979. 

In 1980, Oscar Mayfield, a very close friend of her pre-marital days, paid a surprise visit and within a short time they were married. They left on an overseas trip the following year and he took ill in Norway and died there in 1981. Lorne had many friends including members of the Yilki Church and fellowship and on leaving her home and moving into Bay Lodge in 1993 at the age of 87, she presented a precious collection of memorabilia relating to the South Coast to the local branch of National Trust. 

Lorne Mayfield was a gracious lady in every way, an example to follow, highly esteemed and loved by Lorne Mayfield all who knew her and kind and generous to those in trouble.