RY CREEK, natural salt flats originally reclaimed in 1894 when an embankment was constructed by hand during an unemployment relief program. ICI Australia Operations PL commenced operations in 1935. Construction of the saltfield commenced during the post-depression period when up to 650 men were employed to build earth embankments over an area of >800 Ha, eventually reaching a nominal output of salt of ~100,000 tpa. Extensions to the original saltfield were made form the 1940s through to the 1970s, with full mechanisation completed 1946. Leases extended from near Adelaide, then along a coastal strip for 50 km to the NNW to Port Parham. Total area was >4,000 ha, inclusive of >400 Ha of evaporation ponds. ICI, after almost 50 years of production, sold the operation to Penrice Soda Products in 1989. In 2005 Cheetham (Dry creek) PL, now Ridley Dry creek PL acquired the tenure.