In 1849 a Tasmanian settler by the name of Richard Bennison applied to the Government for a Pastoral Lease of 6400 acre of land known today as the "Yanakie Isthmus and Wilson's Promontory". In 1852 he added another 6400 acres, totalling 12,800 acres, and also erected a 4-room shingle roof hut with 2 out-buildings at the base of the dunes near the entrance of the National Park. The lease became known as the "Yanakie Run" and over the years increased in size to approximately 50,000 acres.

In 1908 Wilson Promontory National Park had been Gazetted and the Old Yanakie Run had been reduced to 26,000 Acres. The Government had decided to cancel the Pastoral Lease and opened the land up for the Hill Farmers of the district so they could graze their cattle over Winter instead of opening the land for Selection.

At the same time they appointed a Ranger, called the Crown Bailiff to administer the Run. The maximum number of cattle considered reasonable for the Run was 3,000 Head. The majority of the cattle arrive between the months of May & June, and when it was time to move the cattle off the Run. The Ranger would advertise in the local papers; "Muster at Yanakie" was to take place. This was usually in July and August before the dairy cattle were due to calve. The cattle on the back Run would be moved into the back mustering paddock and then driven over the "bare sand track" to the front Run. From the Front Run all the cattle would be moved to the front mustering paddock where they would be drafted, divided into individual herds and then taken off. The front mustering paddock is where the Yanakie Township is today, close to the telegraph lines.

By the early 1930's a new holding paddock & yards were built close to the old Yanakie Homestead and these became known as the front yards.

In 1954 the front Run was annexed and handed over to the Soldier Settlement Commission, and in 1968 the back Run was handed over to the National Parks, but cattle continued to graze on the back half until 1992.

In August 1954 12,000 acres of the Yanakie agistment grazing areas (Crown Land) were handed over to the Soldier Settlement commission for development in the Soldier Settlement Estate. Work started in October 1954, ploughing, boundary fencing, water supply, cultivation and establishing an administration center were developed. The estate was divided by Meeniyan Promontory road. On the Corner inlet side 5410 acres were divided into 16 farms and were allotted to Returned Soldiers from the Second World War. The balance of the land on the shallow inlet side of the road was divided into 30 farms and these were allotted under the Land Settlement Act were you didn't have the be a returned soldier to be successful. Red swamp of approximately 1600 Acres was drained by creating two drains named "Main Drain" & "Contour Drain" and these drained into Shallow Inlet via Fisherman's Creek. Once drained this area was cleared, cultivated and subdivided into 15 farms each sharing a portion of the lower ground.

By Autumn 1963 the completed estate was under grass. Each farm within the estate comprised of 300 - 400 acres including a house and garage, dairy, utility or shearing shed, hay shed, wells, dams and tanks with water laid to the house and paddocks. Power arrive middle to late 1960.

When the last farm was allotted in 1965 the population of the settlement was 249 persons. Of the children, 62 attended Yanakie State School and 41 to Foster High. On the 46 farms there were 2663 dairy cows, 900 other cattle and 6400 sheep.

Community Plan

The Yanakie Progress Association maintains a strategic community plan setting out priorities for the district — roads, facilities, and local services.

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